"alive-cds" <aliv...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1138162233.1...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
<<One of Stern's weaknesses was the sound system and they improve it by
coming up with mono sound.>>>
All we've been hearing around here is 'make it sound like DCS!" I
don't know if this does now, but DCS ain't stereo.
Stern needs the home market
A new system with better audio would make the game that much more
attractive
What is the point of a "new system" if it doesn't do much of anything
better than the "old system" ... We've been hearing about this system
for years and what does it end up doing?
I am really bearish on the future of Stern Pinball
I think the future is going to be a step back into the past with lots
of great parts getting made up by Nappa and others that will allow us
to re-build the classic WMS games
I wouldn't buy another Stern
I used to really enjoy Elvis on location, but in a home environment, it
just feels so clunky
For just a little bit more money, CH can build you a "brand new" WMS
game
Gary.Arizona
AG&C games were in stereo and they sucked sound wise. It just wasn't
worth the added hardware.
I'd settle for higher quality sound boards that allow speaker upgrades
(you know they won't put in good speakers). An RCA jack line out on the
sound board would be SWEET so you could add clean sounding amps, but
that would be asking a lot.
Putting the final touches on the amped TZ....
Kirb
I thought the DMD would be in color
Sound would be better
More memory for better graphics and sound
It's early, but I see and hear none of that
Gary.Arizona
better sound with more space for sounds is where the money is. I mean,
does anyone care that NASCAR is stereo or not? no they care that the
music sound track sounds like ass.
And the sound system isn't the only thing for the 'new system'... sheez
give it some time already to get the details.
Or OMG.. it could be things.. like.. CHEAPER.. or gasp.. more reliable?
Yes, what a total waste this new system is because it doesn't have
stereo audio! Come on.. stop focusing on the minor things and think
bigger picture.
"frenchy" <mf10...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1138163436.9...@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
I have to agree. I'm glad that Stern is still around also, at least
someone is still making pins. If/when Stern goes, there will be no one
making pins anymore and that would be the end of the new pinball market!
Nothing better than hearing "Secret Cervix, in digtal stereo." :)
-M
LOTR, TSPP, et al are mono. As far as I know the last DE/Stern game to use
stereo sound was Godzilla. The board design itself supports up to three
amplifiers - left/right/subwoofer - but since Godzilla the subwoofer
channel's components were costed out.
Right now in games like LOTR the left channel drives the two backbox
speakers and the right channel drives the subwoofer (it could also be the
opposite, I forget). Theoretically this would allow them to put different
sounds to the subwoofer versus the backbox speakers, however I do not know
if their sound engineers ever actually did this.
Hopefully the new design was *created* with the versatility to use more
channels, and they just opted to not do so yet.
- Dan
--
*Because John Shields HATES to see people's collections:*
M.M, C.V, N.G.G, T.O.M, J.Y, N.F, J.D, P.M, J.M,
Shad*w, C.F.T.B.L, A.F.M, F.T, W.W, L.O.T.R, T.S.P.P
"alive-cds" <aliv...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1138162233.1...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
I guess you'll have to wait and see what Wayne offers with his 4.1
speaker sound system. I don't know how important the sound system
really is? I play with the WMS tables all of the time in Pinmame and
the balance levels in Windows are bias to the left as I've only 1
speaker inside my computer. It does sound that bad and doesn't seem to
detract from the game (IMHO).
Smart new things from Stern's boardset now include USB firmware
upgrades. Now thats something I'll not miss on my WMS machines;
Pissing around with my EEPROM programmer, mixing ROM images and
wondering why it's not working.
12brightness levels (including off) on the DMD. Who needs LEDs when
Sterns crew work there magic with what we've got.
Coin battery in socket like on PC motherboard. Not like those heavy,
large surface area AA batterys which leak on the PCB as used by the
other manufacturers.
I guess we've got to remember that not all changes to the machine
design are for us as it's easy to see that Stern will save money with
this new design if only by virtue of the fact that theres now less
PCB's to make.
Picture of the new boardset in action:
http://tinyurl.com/bnc67
Ping
You're kidding about this right? We'll have the ability to have a
pinball machine wet-wired into our brains by the time D'wayne produces
a pinball machine;)
nomad
By the sound of some on this post a few have already given up on Stern
just because his new boardset may or maynot be in Mono. Who else is
making a machine for you guys who don't like Mono Sterns?
BTW: I emailed Wayne recently asking if I'll see him at ATEI in London
but no reply as yet and seeing as the show's already started I guess
not. I remember in one of his old posts he said he wants to attend;
Seeing as his 1st machine is to be released this year according to the
publicity on his website then it would have been this year's show he
should have gone to.
Ping
Someone mentioned that early Data East games had awesome stereo sound.
Probably with headphones! I played them many a times and to be honest I
could not make out the stereo hardly. It's a cool noticeable effect in
P2K though (DCS2 audio) since the speakers where staring right at you.
Oh heck.. just bring the old pre-DCS FM chipset back.. lol
Marcel
I dont know if Sega did, mine only had one speaker, I dont think Stern has
done a single Stereo machine yet, correct me if I'm wrong. LOTR is not.
--Eric
--Eric
Back when this board was in development, here's what I told Stern:
* If you give me the choice of double the sample resolution (i.e. 16 or
8 bit) vs. double the sample rate, give me double the sample rate.
(you'll HEAR that on location)
* If you give me the choice between stereo with half the samples and
mono with twice the samples, *duh* take mono with twice the samples!
* If you give me the choice between stereo with crappy speakers, and
mono with slightly upgraded speakers, take the slightly upgraded
speakers.
So there, you can all crucify me now. :)
What I think is hilarious is that nobody has thought through the
ramifications of having the DMD power supply *seperate* from
*everything*...
...almost as if it was tacked on...
...now why would Stern do that? hMMMmmMMmmMmmM?
(sorry to beat people with the clue stick, but COME ON PEOPLE!! THINK!!)
You're nuts. The sound *quality* on GnR is *abysmal*! In terms of
fidelity, it sounds worse than an AM radio.
In terms of sound *content*, it's good. But in terms of *fidelity*, I've
heard more accurate reproductions come from squeaking my schoes across the
floor.
Your inside sources failed you again.
Kirb
Components on the whitestar boards were likely becoming obselete. That seems
to be the main driver of the new board set.
These boards probably cost less, too. Stern is saving money this way, and
having a better chance of staying afloat. Nothing wrong there!
--
http://www.myhomegameroom.com
<gpc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1138165579.5...@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
OUCH! Stop it Korn, that smarts
I got the hint, OK? :)
Aww Kirb, you must know that with the constant barrage of phonecalls
and emails Gary gets from his "inside sources", he's bound to get mixed
up every now and then ;-)
With all those calls and emails, I don't know how he even finds the
time to post here....
=)
i am just glad stern listened to you at all, i mean, god forbid they
DIDN'T do what you told them to do. just glad you had the final word on
the whole -sound- decision making process. if the game sounds like
shit, i'll be sure to egg your house next time i am in chicago since it
is all your fault ;-)
Pinlicious ( ...there is no spoon.)
>> So there, you can all crucify me now. :)
>
> i am just glad stern listened to you at all, i mean, god forbid they
> DIDN'T do what you told them to do. just glad you had the final word on
> the whole -sound- decision making process. if the game sounds like
> shit, i'll be sure to egg your house next time i am in chicago since it
> is all your fault ;-)
I didn't say that at all. But they did take a bunch of my suggestions, so
yeah, I feel good about that. They definitely didn't take all of them,
that's for sure.
"Koz Pinlicious" <pinli...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1138199781.0...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
??? I didn't tell them to make it stereo, I told them NOT to make it
stereo! My exact words were that it was a "waste of sample space".
Besides, the old DE's weren't really in full stereo anyway. IIRC, the only
things that could differentiate between the speakers were the *synth* chip,
not the DACs.
just yanking your chain korn ;-)
who took your suggestions and what other ones did you make that they
ignored?
does anyone have any info on the flippers? was there ANYTHING changed
that would make them better?
That is a different way of looking at things
I am only interested in a new system if it does things dramatically
better
Otherwise, who cares ...
Gary.Arizona
Who cares? how about people that want Pinball machines being made??
If pinball isn't profitable, they will not be able to sustain
themselves and then we have NO new machines.
So yes.. lets ignore important concepts like sustainability. What a
pure genius you are
Please make sure you personally send all this feedback to Gary Stern
via your flury of emails and phone calls you are buried under
> I hear HD AM radio is in the works..
Already deployed! Head on over to Naples if you want to hear DAM.
(digital AM... my "pet" name for '''hd''' (note the TRIPLE QUOTES around
HD!!) AM.)
http://www.ibiquity.com/hdradio/hdradio_hdstations.htm
...not that there are a lot of people who actually have the equipment to
*listen* to HD radio... yet. :)
I may be in the minority, but it seems to me that being able to update
the game ROMS without burning new chips is a pretty big improvement.
Ron
I say as long as it has a kickin' (as the kids say) or bumpin' (as the
brothas say) sub,. then stereo seems like it's sort of just gimmicky. I
mean, it's one of those things that sounds better to say you have it
than it actually sounds in this case.
Lose the stereo, trade it for a nice big sub, amp and crossover. "More
bang for the buck".
Karl.
> hmmmm based on TheKorn, I think you should've just told them to put
> true THZ theatre sound in, or dolby 5.1 with environmental effects,
> screw the cost. At $4000 US for the machine, I'm sure we're willing to
> pay the extra money for something that sounds 'good' as opposed to
> what they have been packaging lately (Nascar).
Why?
I could have also told them to stud the lockdown bar with diamonds; screw
the cost!
But the point is, why bother? The speakers are close enough together and
far enough away from the player that unless you're really *looking* to hear
stereo out of them, you're not going to. Heck, P2K had the speakers almost
a full foot forward of where they are on a Stern, and most people STILL
don't know they were in stereo! (Despite RFM doing some ultra-wide stereo
pans to almost show off that they had stereo!)
So instead, put the money where it'll do the most good. People notice
sound quotes, and at least some people notice sound quality. So it makes
sense to put the money there, where it'll help *sell* the game!
Gary Cubeta has sworn off Stern and predicts that they won't make more
than 3 new games after WPT.
He doesn't have the balls to make a bet to that fact, but he sure does
spout off this nonsense constantly.
Kirb
probably because the DMD high power board didn't change from the old
system???. it's always been a separate board just a fancy cover on
top now...
>
> TheKorn wrote:
>> "Koz Pinlicious" <pinli...@gmail.com> wrote in
>> news:1138199781.0...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>>
>> >> So there, you can all crucify me now. :)
>> >
>> > i am just glad stern listened to you at all, i mean, god forbid
>> > they DIDN'T do what you told them to do. just glad you had the
>> > final word on the whole -sound- decision making process. if the
>> > game sounds like shit, i'll be sure to egg your house next time i
>> > am in chicago since it is all your fault ;-)
>>
>> I didn't say that at all. But they did take a bunch of my
>> suggestions, so yeah, I feel good about that. They definitely didn't
>> take all of them, that's for sure.
>
> just yanking your chain korn ;-)
>
> who took your suggestions and what other ones did you make that they
> ignored?
You know I don't name drop like that. If it really *matters*, I'll tell
you via email.
My suggestion was to use mpeg4 encoding for the sounds, so you could
squeeze as many samples as possible into the same RAM space. Further, my
suggestion was not to spend the development time writing their own sound
routines, but rather take GPL routines and modify them.
AFAIK, neither route was taken. That's their call; no offense was taken
by it.
(I also suggested strobing the switch matrix out of sequence to reduce
capacitance coupling between the switch lines, but I don't know if they
took that idea or not.)
> does anyone have any info on the flippers? was there ANYTHING changed
> that would make them better?
Lots of loose talk, but I don't know anything on that subject.
Or at least make it easy to ADD these items...
Kirb
> Did someone say that we should be excited about the new system because
> it makes Stern's costs cheaper?
DUH! Yes!
Every dollar that you DON'T spend on X means that's another dollar you
CAN spend on Y. So if you don't do stereo sound, you can instead have
another playfield toy. That's how the economics *work*!
Besides, if you increase the cost, then that decreases the customer base.
Econ 101!
(yes, I know the counter point, and I'm sure you'll take it.)
> I am only interested in a new system if it does things dramatically
> better
>
> Otherwise, who cares ...
Exactly right. You don't play the "system" that the game is based on.
You only perhiperally (via dots and sounds) interact with it.
In other words, the content is king, not what delivers the content.
BTW KORN, hilarious stuff on your DVD. I personally like the complex
set designs. :)
Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
=================================
> all the sound issues dont' really amount to shit. If the game is fun
> and addicting, that's what's going to matter. One or two speakers
> isnt' going to make or break it...especially on location which you can
> barely hear it half of the time anyway. I think 95% of pins I play on
> location are turned so low, you have to lean into the machine to
> actually make anything out. Location owners probably get sick of the
> sounds after while and have the distributer turn them down. For home
> use, you want better sound. But I don't think we buy most of the pins
> yet.
True, to a point. More to the point, if you're in a situation where you
*can* hear the sound, you don't want to be embarassed by it, a la NASCAR.
Besides, if you have double (or better!) the sample space, then hopefully
the game's sounds won't get *that* annoying. (One can only hope!)
> BTW, hilarious stuff on your DVD. I personally like the complex set
> designs. :)
Haha, thanks! Well, the shooting budget was nonexistent, so had to kind
of use what was around...
...and what's around? Why, I have a ton of them thar new fangled pinball
machines! :)
> all you have to do is connect a stereo encoder.
*bARf* Fake stereo encoders are worse than a genuine mono signal, IMHO.
> that is odd that the
> sound is mono thow. even thow the speakers are so close, you can still
> tell stereo sound compared to mono. its crisper/ more treblish and
> lower bass tones. alot more too it that just being "seperated"
> compare am to fm, same thing.
Umm, you're comparing apples and oranges there. If done correctly, if
you have a mono signal and feed it to two identical speakers, it'll sound
identical. (not theoretical; has been done to death!)
What I think may be confusing you is that WMS games have a (crappy)
crossover built into them. So what happens is they don't feed the same
signal into the left and right panel speakers, so you can notice a
difference in the left/right output if you listen for it even though the
game is mono. Not the same thing as true stereo.
Crappy 4 color screened playfields that wear at the drop of a hat?
Crappy 4 color huge dot resolution screening on the plastics?
Crappy 4 color huge dot resolution screening on the cabinets?
Frequent maintenance problems?
Displays that go bad way to quick?
Weak flippers that are of such bad design to the point where you can't make
half the shots after awhile?
Cheap black leg, rails and that funky lockdown bar?
Now we have cheap MONO sound?
I know it's not the 90's and Bally/WMS is gone. See what happens when there
is no competition? I just can't bring myself to cheer on mediocrity.........
Mike
I am not seeing them wear out. Maybe if they switch to those late 80's
early 90s horseshit Williams playfield where all the insert lettering
disappeared after one year on route they'll have something.
<<Frequent maintenance problems? >>
There still more reliable than Willams or Gottliebs.
<<Displays that go bad way to quick?>>
They don't make the displays.
<<Now we have cheap MONO sound?>>
If I can find a post where you or anybody else EVER referred to any
Williams/Bally/Gottlieb as being only in "cheap mono" I'll die a happy
man.
Frenchy why do you always respond to criticism of Stern by trashing 20
year old Williams games? I don't get it, it's completely irrelevant.
The system is a huge improvement over the old system, you just don't
know it yet. Here's the highlights:
The game never misses switch hits. You get every point and far fewer
disappointments while playing. This will be noticed, but not by all,
simply because that's the way any pinball machine should work.
Anyone, anywhere can download WPT updates, anytime. Just plug in a
flash rom, press a few buttons, unplug the flash rom and the new
software is installed. The software will be available to download
online. This is a huge advance. No more trips to the distrib for
eproms. Saves operators and owners' money, gas and time.
The system has vastly expanded memory which in turn allows us to create
far MORE of everything, rules, DMD effects, light effects, sounds,
speech, music, and far better and smoother interaction between each of
the above components. The difference is staggering and will be
immediately noticed on WPT.
With the system memory expanded, it allows us to create far BETTER
rules, DMD effects, light effects, sounds, speech, music and physical
action on the playfield. Processing speed seems to be faster, ball
response is faster & sharper, and the play is crisp and smooth. Again,
the difference is absolutely noticeable on WPT. Nothing is skimped-on.
We don't have to eliminate frames from dmd effects, or limit anything
in software. Speech, sound, and music are far better because we are
recording and playing back at higher rates. None of this has been true
to WPT's degree on any system in the past.
The sound system is remarkably better. I touched on reasons why it is
much higher quality, but the system actually working in WPT is
spectacular. Everyone will notice the difference, and I will be
astounded if anyone says they don't like it. Of course, it didn't hurt
that Chris Granner has produced his finest sound package in years, in
both technical and musical terms. I also knew what I wanted to hear
and feel while playing WPT, and he delivered in spades. Keith has had
his input as well, and his timing and sound choreography are superb.
Fidelity is far superior. Crisp highs and big bass. I am slowly going
deaf, but I can hear what's going on in this game far better than any
other, any time... Come to think of it, Korn's BK2K might be the
exception!!
TOPS is included in every WPT. The self-contained tournament system
outputs to the DMD or you can purchase the back-box-top optional large
colored-dot display. Press a few buttons, plug in a switch, and
*Viola'*..any WPT is instantly TOPS ready.
WPT contains multiple languages and multilingual speech in it's memory.
It may help popularize our pins, and we have high hopes for a broader
player base, especially our Spanish-speaking friends. This should be
important to anyone who loves pinball. Expansion of our player base is
key to the health and well-being of pinball, and it's continued
production. It's a great piece of work by Lonnie Ropp.
Every fuse has an LED associated with it, and you can see a blown fuse
at a glance.
No more diodes on coils. I had to live down being famous for putting
the most diodes on backwards of anyone in engineering for years. Glad
they are gone...
I have probably left some things out, but these are the bullet points.
The system isn't stereo, because true stereo means double memory, and
the difference while playing a stereo game is negligible. It has been
tried and tested at Williams, and the truth is, no one cares. There
has never been enough separation between the speakers to fully utilize
stereo. Stereo has never added anything to the coinbox. Good sound
quality and content absolutely adds to the coinbox!!
Lyman Sheats is the champion of the new system, and his work has been
tireless and excellent. Not only is his operating system working very
well; he has created some major improvements in diagnostics and
countless other areas. Most players will never see or appreciate what
he has done in this area, but operators and techs will. Very
importantly, Lyman has been the hardware watchdog, making sure that the
electronics work well and give the best performance of any pinball
system, ever. He has succeeded. Only a few people on rgp might grasp
what it takes to make a new pinball system, (nearly 2-1/2 years of
Lyman's work), especially a system as great as this. Lyman has made a
huge contribution to PINBALL with this system.
Lyman, Keith Johnson, Lonnie, and others have worked like dogs to make
this system great. Lyman has written a completely new operating
system, and it is a beautiful thing. All the programmers had to learn
this new language, and it's my perception that for Keith, it has been
like learning Mandarin in one year with someone busily changing many
word's definitions at the same time as developing a remarkably fun
pinball machine.
Keith's work in this area has been tireless and diligent, and extremely
creative. Keith has been the system guinea pig, finding bugs trying
out Lyman's stuff and has worked closely with Lyman to prove out the
system. He's made a great ruleset that is fun and very original while
accomodating guys like me who don't play that well. (Incidently, Keith
has been instrumental in making WPT my personal favorite to play since
ST:TNG. He's intelligent and very talented, and WPT is probably his
best work. The rules are deep, plentiful and he is writing more rules
as I type this!!! He has been responsive to input as we all have been
on this game, making a very special pinball machine. Working with
Keith has been one of the most fun pinball project experiences in my
career. He never backs down or cheaps-out with his effort. His total
focus is that of a seasoned pinball professional, knowing that
everything he does targets making players happy and satified. His
ruleset is open-ended. It will be tough to master everything he has
created. WPT isn't going to get boring anytime soon.)
Stern Pinball is alive and well both here in Melrose Park, and *here*
in our hearts. We have a bright future, and the new system is a part
of that future. The Stern team has worked very hard to make the best
pinball machine possible. Everyone from Gary Stern to the factory
workers is dedicated to making good pinball machines that are
profitable, fun, and entertaining. The company is small, and it is
hard to hide incompetence. What's left is a hardcore group of industry
professionals with long histories in coin-biz lore and success. I am
proud of WPT. I think you will find that WPT has a nice solid feel
that you might appreciate. I will say no more, because it isn't my
place to tout my design.
I am not posting this to be defensive about our system or WPT. The
product and system speak for themselves.
I am posting this because your grossly unfounded criticism before
seeing, understanding, or hearing the system is unacceptable on an
information level and based on wildly inaccurate data. Should anyone
take your post(s) seriously, I am merely establishing the truth.
I do not speak for Lyman, Keith or any other person here at Stern, but
I am pretty sure they will do nothing more than chuckle when they read
your post. As always, it is hard to take your posts seriously, because
you spew misinformation frequently and infamously. This is a sad state
of affairs, and deserves my rebuttal at least this once. I truly
believe many rgp'ers are rejoicing that I call you on your repeated
spreading of disinformation. This kind of behavior detracts from
pinball, and is especially harmful to people new to the hobby who may
take your data at face value. Is this your intention? I was wondering
if I might ask you to stop posting disinformation. Will you please
stop, Gary?
It's been said before, but this is my version:
Every one of us is entitled to our opinions and the right to post
anything we want, but we all might keep in mind that the internet has
provided each of us with the ability to look like fools as often as we
like, before an audience of millions, for a millenium.
Regards,
Steve Ritchie
gpc...@yahoo.com wrote:
> The game should be in stereo
>
> Stern needs the home market
>
> A new system with better audio would make the game that much more
> attractive
>
> What is the point of a "new system" if it doesn't do much of anything
> better than the "old system" ... We've been hearing about this system
> for years and what does it end up doing?
>
> I am really bearish on the future of Stern Pinball
>
> I think the future is going to be a step back into the past with lots
> of great parts getting made up by Nappa and others that will allow us
> to re-build the classic WMS games
>
> I wouldn't buy another Stern
>
> I used to really enjoy Elvis on location, but in a home environment, it
> just feels so clunky
>
> For just a little bit more money, CH can build you a "brand new" WMS
> game
>
> Gary.Arizona
"Boy, if life were only like this"--Woody Allen.
Thanks Mr. Ritchie for your well presented comments.
steve SDTM
<kin...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1138224788....@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Thank you very much for sharing all of this information in a classy and
articulate manner. Your thoughtful and infomative response is a great
counterpoint to unfounded speculation and guessing, which we see all
too often on this forum. I also greatly appreciate the manner in which
you posted, providing facts and concrete examples. I have always found
fact based responses like you made infinitely more convincing and
preferable to "opinions" not grounded in fact or experience. Everyone
is entitled to an opinion, but I would be furious if my work were
questioned in a permanent public forum by someone who had not seen or
used that work. My hat is off to you for your civility, which I am not
sure I could have matched..
I have never bought a NIB machine, but listening to your description,
it sounds like WPT may be a well deserved exception. I look forward to
playing the game and feeling/seeing the difference. Then, I will be
able to make a reasonable purchase decision.
Congratulations to you and your colleagues, particularly Lyman and
Keith, on the Herculean effort you made. Only time will tell how
players respond to the changes, but I for one am excited about a new
pin for the first itme in several years. Thank you for that, if for
nothing else.
Ron
king...@aol.com wrote:
> Gary, a few things need to be cleared up for you and others about
> Stern's new system. Our new game, WPT (my design) is the first pinball
> on the new system.
>
> The system is a huge improvement over the old system, you just don't
> know it yet. Here's the highlights:
>
> The game never misses switch hits. You get every point and far fewer
> disappointments while playing. This will be noticed, but not by all,
> simply because that's the way any pinball machine should work.
>
> Anyone, anywhere can download WPT updates, anytime. Just plug in a
> flash rom, press a few buttons, unplug the flash rom and the new
> software is installed. The software will be available to download
> online. This is a huge advance. No more trips to the distrib for
> eproms. Saves operators and owners' money, gas and time.
>
> The system has vastly expanded memory which in turn allows us to create
> far MORE of everything, rules, DMD effects, light effects, sounds,St
To be frank, I think the reality will be more like, "we didn't have to
remove anything" versus "there's tons of additional depth and polish".
All this being said, playing this game for the first time is definetely
going to be one of the highlights of my year.
It doesn't have anything to do with it being a Williams or being 20
years old. It's called perspective. Someone says Stern playfields
wear out like crazy, which they don't, and I point out a horrid example
of what real wear REALLY is. Probably the worst example in history, I
don't care if they were Williams or Gencos, they stunk. Do you have
worst example of playfields having huge wear problems in the middle of
the playfield, other than say an EBD that had 200,000 games on it? I
don't see ebay loaded with insert label kits for Sterns or Data Easts,
do you? And when do you ever complain about something on a Stern
without comparing it to a Williams?
Well that, and I know it pisses you off ; )
Steve, once again thank you for taking the time to clear the air, point
out some great improvements, and give back to pinball even more than
you do everyday. It's not a secret that I dig your games.
I would also like to personally thank you for correcting Gary. I always
get a chuckle when people in the know give him a big STFU. I think this
post pretty much kills the speculation in this thread.
I can't wait to try out the new system and WPT.
Kirb
(thanks for 1/2 of my modern collection, BTW...)
Thank you so much for your expert behind the scenes information. Seems
like there is more of a buzz over this game than any other in recent
memory. I've been thinking this will be my first NIB purchase. I'll
probably go "all in" on one soon.
The new system looks great. So many improvements! What about the
flippers? Any change there?
Thanks for the well-deserved body slam on Gary. Maybe he'll go back
into his hole for a few months.
John
P.S. Think I'll go play a game of Hyperball!
A other thing that is needed is Player Volume Control What is point of
haveing good sound in a game when you can't hear it.
All they can do is make it easier, they can't make operators unstupid.
<<<A other thing that is needed is Player Volume Control What is point
of
haveing good sound in a game when you can't hear it. >>>
A better idea might be to add a cheap microphone to the game that
monitors the average of the surrounding noise, and adjusts the sound
level accordingly.
"Joe Blasi" <Jbl...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:anTBf.3530$2O6....@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
kin...@aol.com wrote:
> Gary, a few things need to be cleared up for you and others about
> Stern's new system. Our new game, WPT (my design) is the first pinball
<snip>
I'm also about 4 times more excited than I was to get my game. That's
pretty hard to do. I can't wait to play this thing.
--Donnie
--
Donnie Barnes http://www.donniebarnes.com 879. V.
One thing that stikes me is that someone at Stern is replying to a
discussion group troll........whoa!
-Tom
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8f4tt/tomstwilightzonepinballmachineaccessories/index.html
If you're lying to me, I promise to whine to you in person if I ever
meet you.
;)
Sounds great, looking foward to this one!
No one has the right to critcize the new system until they play it.
After
witnessing all the hard work Lyman and the rest have done, they
don't deserve to be disrespected by someone who perpetuates bad data
and inflammatory comments. The new system is a nice piece of work.
After the system is out there and played, serious criticism is always
taken seriously by me, at least. I cannot speak for Stern; I am a
consultant,
but the programming team is smart and didligent and some of us are
always watching rgp. If something comes up we want to know about it.
"alive-cds" <aliv...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:1138162233.1...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> So the new Stern pinball machines will be in Mono! Isn't that a step
> backwards?? What does anybody else think? Granted there isn't much
> stereo separation anyway with the speakers only 22 inches apart, but
> this is 2006! You can buy an iPod shuffle for $90 and it's in stereo,
> but a $4K pinball machine isn't?? I just don't get it. One of Stern's
> weaknesses was the sound system and they improve it by coming up with
> mono sound. The only thing in my house that in mono is my clock radio
> and even that I only set to buzzer and never listen to the radio
> anymore.
>
-Tom
"kirb" <kirb...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1138227808....@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
"Joe Blasi" <Jbl...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:anTBf.3530$2O6....@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
"Woodsy" <woo...@comNONSPAMcast.net> wrote in message
news:D4GdnZzeWb3...@comcast.com...
I didn't know we had to get permission from you and Gary Stern to voice
opinions up here
Understand this, I state opinions
I am not doing a newscast like Dan Rather or Brian Williams
You guys get this mixed up all the time ....
I don't know anything about your new system ... I was asking a question
and voicing some rather small opinions
It's really simple ... Steve Ritchie works for us ... We are his
customers ... He won't be telling me what I can and can't say ... I
have 7 of his machines in my house ... My support has helped his career
(granted in a small way, but every customer counts)
I hope the Stern guys keep on going, but designing games like the
Sopranos (great theme, lousy ) and this Poker thing are not
going to help
and after all, if they were so busy over there in Chicago, why would
they be so worried about little old insignicant me?
Donnie Barnes gets the brown nose trophy once again
my opinions all ....
=)
Gary.Arizona
Oh yeah? Then I got one. Granted it's minor, but here goes.
I haven't played it yet, but I understand that the game doesn't feature
multiple musical soundtracks. It drives *me* nuts to hear the same
thing OVER AND OVER at the start of every game.
I've bored Keith about this to no end. There is *plenty* of public
domain music that could have been midi'ed and stuck in this game. I
think the new system could handle this.
A few games in the early 90s offered multiple soundtracks, but you had
to slog through selecting them each time. Give a game 5 soundtracks,
have it automatically cycle through them each game. Keep the voice
calls and effects the same.
Do any other games have this?
The switch matrix improvements are most
welcome, and I'm sure the sound system will
rock!
Thanks for the *personal* update, too. :)
--
Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
******************
<kin...@aol.com> wrote in message news:1138224788....@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Gary, a few things need to be cleared up for you and others about
> Stern's new system. Our new game, WPT (my design) is the first pinball
> on the new system.
>
> The system is a huge improvement over the old system, you just don't
> know it yet. Here's the highlights:
<snipped>
Learn how to do the updates. Teach them how if they
are willing to learn.
Volunteer to do the updates for them for free.
Do it.
--
Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
******************
"Joe Blasi" <Jbl...@sbcglobal.net> wrote
I was once at this arcade that used play cards and this one game had
card reader on a angle and it not reading the card because some had put
a coin in it.
In reality, I think having more stuff accessible to the player would just
mean more stuff to break so I wouldn't personally see this as a feature with
very high priority to consider.
"Joe Blasi" <Joeb...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:DKVBf.14314$_S7....@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
Just to say.. thank you for taking time out of your schedule to
participate in the community, provide us details on things we eagerly
await to play, and for giving us such personal input from where you
stand.
Knowing Keith from when he played with us back in MD.. watching his
passion for the game.. I'm sure working with him in such a innovative
area is quite fun.. and probably challenging too! His expectations are
high, and I'm sure he pushes himself and others to meet the
expectations as if he were the player.
Looking forward to finding WPT on location!
-Steve
kin...@aol.com wrote:
> Gary, a few things need to be cleared up for you and others about
> Stern's new system. Our new game, WPT (my design) is the first pinball
> on the new system.
>
> The system is a huge improvement over the old system, you just don't
> know it yet. Here's the highlights:
>