Quoted from goldfinger88

Looks will fade but gameplay will always be #1 in my books     

That's the same way I feel about my wife too!

I disagree completely! If you assume that Sterns focus is not the home environment but to attract new players on location - then I suggest they go back to marketing school. Visual appearance (first impressions) is what attracts NEW players (people unfamiliar) not the Toys. The toys is what keeps them once you have attracted them (i.e keeps us collectors). The translite is not the area to skimp on dollars if that is their intention - this marketing strategy will only work for collectors.

As most people on this board will attest too - most pins require "playtime" before you really begin to appreciate the game (understand the toys and rules). So you really have to work hard to attrack people in the first place (backglass, lights).

Look at pins like CFTBL - visually stunning! Everyone wants to play it right away but then the gameplay quickly becomes less appealing. The secret is to have both (difficult to attain). Many popular pins are licensed themes which automatically attracts people due to that familiarity/popularity. At least IJ4 has that going for it because the backglass does stink a little (could have been so much more).

My 2 cents.

Quoted from tom_454

At least IJ4 has that going for it because the backglass does stink a little (could have been so much more).
My 2 cents.

I agree with everyone - and am thinking there must be a market in true artists making alternative translites / backglasses for some of these games.  

From legality, as they are different artwork, and not repros, I would think it would be o.k.

The Christensen backglasses and MrHide's Jungle Queen - just amazing artwork - I wonder what an artist could do for IJ / Batman / Spiderman / etc?   Maybe even make alternative plastics?

It'd be a nice gameroom mod - uniqueness - but easily revertable.  

Not sure how much $$$ there is in it though...

Quoted from tom_454

Many popular pins are licensed themes which automatically attracts people due to that familiarity/popularity. At least IJ4 has that going for it

To me, if the theme as you stated already attracts people, and they immediately know that this is an "Indiana Jones" pinball machine,  Would a fancier backglass really attract more players?  I mean if they see this translite they know immediately what game this is and that recognition factor is what draws them in.   Spending addtional money on a nicer backglass does not translate into more people playing it.  The theme of the game is what gets the players in this instance as the theme is universally known.  

I agree with your reasoning on lesser known themes such and RBION or some of the cartoon(turned into movies) inspired themes such as Spiderman and the upcoming Batman game as these titles were originally derived from creative works(the comics) and as such should use more creative artwork in their marketing(ie translite, cabinet, playfield) cater to both segments of their market, the comic fans and the movie fans.  As for IJ4, it has always been associated with the visual images from the movies and casual players will instantaniously recognize the images that have been used.  Trying to recreate these images or scenes from the movie with illustration would take away from the instant recognition factor of the casual players that Stern has obviously tried to target.  When someone sees that translite they know that game is based on the movies.  

As stated previously, I prefer illustrated backglasses but I fully understand why Stern went this route.  (This is still better looking than WOF though...)     

Nahhhh....I pick photoshop back glasses for movie themed games. Take one look at the JM back glass and try to say that Youssi didnt screw that one up big time. Keanu's all wrinkly and bloated, and the chick beside him "Dina Meyer" looks weird (far apart eyes, messed up face)....If that glass would have been better looking I'd say the machine would be worth more than it is today.
So, figure they get some artist to do IJ4...people would be all like "thats not what he/she/that looked like in the movie...this thing looks cheap..etc..etc...)
Your first bite is in the presentation of the product!

It's funny to me that people put so much value on what the translate looks like.  Who cares, how much time do you spend looking at it when you are playing the game.  Shadow is the worst for this, what a terrible translate but an amazing game, but whever you ask anyone about it the first thing they complain about is the translate.

Me I love my shadow, don't really care about the translate, when I get less lazy I plan to put the head of Kim Jong Il from Team Americia on the head of who ever that dude is on the right of Alec with a bubble that says "You are usless Awic Bawdwin!!"

Oh man, it would be hilarious to replace the Khan quotes in The Shadow with Team America Kim Jong Il quotes!

I like illustration also... but stern really crap the bed on this one. Stern could done a WAYYYYYYYYYy nicer job with the backglass even if it was photoshoped.. I think who ever did that photoshop job did a terriible job (YES I CAN DO BETTER).

Could you buy a WMS IJ translite to replace the Stern translite? Or would the fluorescent light not look good?

Quoted from Vengeance

It's funny to me that people put so much value on what the translate looks like.  Who cares, how much time do you spend looking at it when you are playing the game.

While this is very True, If the game sits in a prominent place in your home, you have to look at it for the 23 1/2 hours a day it isn't being played! That is where the issue lies. Many people like the game as Playable art, or in some cases Pretty Giant Paper Weights!

Dave

So I went to see IJ4 at the Colossus Laval and low and behold was the Stern IJ.

First the movie.  I can't say I wasn't entertained but the plot deviated a bit too much to feel in keeping with the past trilogy (for me) disclosing why would ruin the plot so ...  I also felt there was more action and stunts; than the solving of a puzzle or discovering something new.  I preferred that indy used his mind first then his fist .. it was the other way around in this movie.

Now the pin.

I think the translight has already been bashed on this thread.  All I will say is that I don't like it.
The game and the play field look great and the layout is interesting.  I would have the back area and decal of the game more busy .. but you can't have everything.  The game is fun to play and the multi ball is great ... but with eight balls you are more or less chimmping the flippers until you get down to something more manageable like 3-4 balls.

I found the outlanes very aggressive but it may have been due to the bouncy ness of the new rubber.  A lot of sling to outlane bounces occurred.  There were also a lot of SDTM from the Arc magnet which is probably why there is a post between the flippers.  (Often the magnet really whips the ball around fast)

The only major negative of the game for me is the sound calls.  Now first let me say I don't know what version of the software it was and I was in a busy cinema.  But the thing that bothered me most was when in multiball I would hit the jackpot target and was supposed to hear the overly fake connery voice "Jack Pot!!" but if I made another shot (easy to do with eight balls) All I would hear is "Jaaaa" ... "Jaaa".  Again this is something they can fix since its software but I found it annoying.

My only other comments was there was a lot of Stop/Start a-la TZ while you waited for a video to complete.  If I could have heard the sound in a closed room it would have been more interesting then wondering why my ball is being held in the only ramp of the game.

So the only other observation I wanted to share was that nobody was playing it   There was a 6-8 pod booth setup of Wii mario cart racing (free) with big banners and mini dv cameras and teens in wii shirts giving out key chains or something.

Tough to compete I guess ...

Quoted from pins only

While this is very True, If the game sits in a prominent place in your home, you have to look at it for the 23 1/2 hours a day it isn't being played! That is where the issue lies. Many people like the game as Playable art, or in some cases Pretty Giant Paper Weights!

Dave

23 1/2 hours??  Jesus man do you sleep?