I mean besides me... I have been playing this game for a few months now and I have to say I am really enjoying it, A heck of a lot more than I thought I would. I bought it based on the popular opinion, you know, Not Williams, but pretty darn good, Especially for a Stern and knowing it probably wouldn't be to tough to sell if I wanted too. Seriously, this game really does have Tons going for it, Lots of shots that must be hit and hit often, 6 Modes that you actually have to complete to get the Full rewards, 3 multi-Balls that get harder as you try to get to them a second time, a Big Red light up guy in the Center to shoot at, a Very cool center shot with a Magnet. Very good representations of the movies, and I think as hard a Wizard mode as I have ever seen! I didn't enjoy the movies when they came out as I found them quite slow and Very long! After playing the game for a while, I threw the first movie in the DVD Player and sat down to shop a game. You know, The damn game made the movies far more appealing to me to the point I actually enjoyed them! And now, I know what the heck the quotes are referring to and where they are from! I think it actually helped to have something to do while they were on as they are still very long and can be a bit slow in places, but well worth seeing.
To bad Williams didn't make it!
Dave (Sorry Necro...)
Here are games I would like to acquire this year, or sometime...
24 Iron Man Attack From Mars Prefer Pounded playfield! Monster Bash Prefer Pounded Playfield! Elvis Sopranos Batman Forever Spider-Man Stern Prefer Pounded Playfield!
Have these available for trade or possible sale: Corvette South Park Theatre of Magic Twilight Zone RFM/SW:EP1 Nucore Combo AFM
I absolutely love this pin, having played about a million times on Bish's. A couple tough shots, great theme, fun toys, I was a huge fan. I could totally see me picking one up in the future when space/finances allow. Awesome pin, IMHO. Daniel
Its a really good. A real players game with lots of shots. Sure there may be a few things they could have improved upon but it is a solid game. One of the best games to come out in a long time.
And I agree with cooke. Why are you apologizing to Glen? Its his loss if he is so narrow minded.
Hate it with a passion - couldn't sell it fast enough!
I agree the shots themselves are fun but the theme just killed it for me. No interest in the movies or stories so it made no sense at all when playing.
However, on the other hand, TSPP I love purely for the unique shots and gameplay. And in TSPP, you don't have to know the Simpsons to enjoy the jokes or comments or goals of the game. I've never watched a single Simpson's episode but absolutely love to play the pinball and laugh at something it says every game
I like it lots. Especially when Gandolf is yelling"TRIPPLE JACKPOT"
Current Pins Current Arcade ------------------------------------------------------ DM Home Made "Baby" M.A.M.E. EFTLW Vision 33" JAMMA Machine TFTC MK 1,2,U3,4. JM SFA2. Golden Tee "99" Killer Instinct 1&2 1 Slot Neo Geo/5 or 6 games (In a box somewhere) 108 in 1 Neo Geo cratrige
Hate it with a passion - couldn't sell it fast enough!
I agree the shots themselves are fun but the theme just killed it for me. No interest in the movies or stories so it made no sense at all when playing.
However, on the other hand, TSPP I love purely for the unique shots and gameplay. And in TSPP, you don't have to know the Simpsons to enjoy the jokes or comments or goals of the game. I've never watched a single Simpson's episode but absolutely love to play the pinball and laugh at something it says every game
ME
this is why pinball is so subjective.
TSPP does *nothing* for me. I walk away from it it's so boring. the theme kills it for me. The simpsons ain't funny.
I love the LOTR books and movies and yeah, the pin is on my wish list and yeah, I saw Dave's listing and hey, I'm even going near there this weekend but I don't have the cash right now.
to each his own !
Mrhide.pinnesota.org RAA La marié de Pinbot et La Créature du Lagon Noir, Eclipse et Capt. Card
Gandalf's best lines (among many) are "This foe is beyond all of us" [Balrog] and "RUN YOU FOOLS !! " during the Fellowship MultiBall
Ah... what a great game... I think I'll go watch the movie again for the N-th time !
Steph
I finally heard Gandalf yell "You Shall NOT Pass!!!" Very cool! Those 2 ramps seem to be in just the Wrong place!!
Dave
Here are games I would like to acquire this year, or sometime...
24 Iron Man Attack From Mars Prefer Pounded playfield! Monster Bash Prefer Pounded Playfield! Elvis Sopranos Batman Forever Spider-Man Stern Prefer Pounded Playfield!
Have these available for trade or possible sale: Corvette South Park Theatre of Magic Twilight Zone RFM/SW:EP1 Nucore Combo AFM
What? It only took Stern several dozen attempts at making games to come up with one that is mildly amusing... Bravo Stern!
Sounds like the infinite monkey theorem.
"Given enough time, a hypothetical chimpanzee typing at random would, as part of its output, almost surely produce one of Shakespeare's plays."
That's not to say I find LOTR to be Hamlet by any means.
The one thing I allways find amusing about all Stern bashers is they totaly gloss over the fact that Williams has had just as many if not more crappy titles built during their regin then Stern. Let's make a list shall we:
Black Rose Congo (I like it but it's generaly described as a turd) Dirty Harry Dr. Who Dr. Dude Flintstones Harley Davidson Hurricane NBA Fastbreak Party Zone Popeye Star Wars EP1 Who Dunnit
None of the games listed hold even a candle to the sterns being produced today and are generally all seen as bad game design at the time. So bash all you want but your precious Williams in no more infalable then Stern, they just arn't making anything any more so there isn't any chance of them creating any new turds and as such the turds they have created have already passed threw the halls of history.
I think Necro's afraid to admit it....He likes Stern's but they kick his a** everytime.........so he keeps to his original story.. I have both lotr and tspp and by far they have the most in depth rules. Show me a bally or williams that when you get to a certain mode the flippers work on reverse.. Try one for a couple of hours Necro and you will be hooked. By the way ...show me a game with a cooler mode then Alien Invaision
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See when I had Lord i love it sort of but got boring like any pin I only had one at the time. I might get another one one day i actually miss it well actually any pin right now all i have is vids. As for TSPP I cant stand the game. When I worked at Henry amusements i found it to be one of those games that are called operator Nightmare where the couch breaks all the time garage door ect. Also the game is just boring i love the Simpsons but not any of the pins
Life is like Pinball!! You never know where you will bounce or where your going but sometimes you have that one amazing shot But on the other hand you have those darn gutter ball where you just get frustrated.
LOTR is probably the best (along with TSPP) pin for home use, especially if you have a small collection. The rule depth and ingenuity keeps you interested, plus it's a fan layout with a set of challenging shots. Most WPC titles do not have the depth to keep you interested in the long run (except for a few notable exceptions: TZ, STTNG and possibly MM). There are very few pins (if any) that I would pick over LOTR. There may have been recent complaints on unfinished code with certain Stern games, however, with this one, they (Keith) created a masterpiece in rule depth which will probably never be repeated. It seems that Stern believes it's money not well spent as most players on location will not notice the difference. Future Sterns will probably only have the complexity and depth of your average WPC title.
Also the game is just boring i love the Simpsons but not any of the pins
Wow, I find that hard to believe...
The game has so much going for it (...great humor, colorful artwork, good selection of shots, and the deepest ruleset in all of Pinball [deeper than LOTR even ! ] ).
...and the reverse flipper mode is sheer genius !
(...I'm still trying to get to Alien Invasion, but I'm told it makes TZ's Lost in The Zone mode look like Sunday School !
I can only assume that your dislike is based more from the view of an "operator" (trying to fix it ) than a player.
All you need is a few decent games on a good machine and you'll be hooked...
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Hmmm? I guess he had a old version of the roms because i don't remember alien invasions. Because i did complete the modes and never saw that? His pin was one from first batch.
The game has so much going for it (...great humor, colorful artwork, good selection of shots, and the deepest ruleset in all of Pinball [deeper than LOTR even ! ] ).
...and the reverse flipper mode is sheer genius !
(...I'm still trying to get to Alien Invasion, but I'm told it makes TZ's Lost in The Zone mode look like Sunday School !
I can only assume that your dislike is based more from the view of an "operator" (trying to fix it ) than a player.
All you need is a few decent games on a good machine and you'll be hooked...
Steph
Life is like Pinball!! You never know where you will bounce or where your going but sometimes you have that one amazing shot But on the other hand you have those darn gutter ball where you just get frustrated.
TSPP does nothing for me, but I really do not like the Simpsons either, never understood the humor on that show. It is OK, but i do not understand the great love that many have for this pin.
I have friend that has a TSPP and when we play he dies laughing everytime. To each his own, I guess.
It has been scientifically proven that light is faster than sound. That is why some people seem brilliant........until they open their mouth!
Hmmm? I guess he had a old version of the roms because i don't remember alien invasions. Because i did complete the modes and never saw that?
Not only must you complete all the TV modes, but you also need to :
Get the Secret Stash : ( all 10 Hurry Up targets ) Get the Reverse Flippers : (all 10 2x targets ) Get all 4 Itchy and Scratchy Mulitball Modes Get all 4 Bart Dare-Devil modes Light-up the 5 family members lights in the centre of the PF (...this is done by re-loading the couch during a couch multiball ... for EACH of the 5 characters ).
That alone will take about 45 minutes to achieve ! (if you're lucky... ).
...now you know why I haven't made the Alien Invasion Wizard mode yet !
I'm just thankful you don't need all 37 Cletus kids as well !
(...not to mention all the other surprises like the TreeHouse of Horrors, Captain Pete's treasure chest, the nuclear meltdown, etc... )
Now you know why I think it's the deepest ruleset in Pinball..
Look guys, I don't know if you did the math on what I have put into buying pinballs but if I really wanted a Stern out of all of that, don't you think I would have bought one by now?
All the rules etc. aside. I just don't find them as fun or creative. The Brunswick "Alive" feel really is the killer in the end. I really like the commercial quality of Williams/Bally. It's part of the whole coin-op illusion package for me.
Not only must you complete all the TV modes, but you also need to :
Get the Secret Stash : ( all 10 Hurry Up targets ) Get the Reverse Flippers : (all 10 2x targets ) Get all 4 Itchy and Scratchy Mulitball Modes Get all 4 Bart Dare-Devil modes Light-up the 5 family members lights in the centre of the PF (...this is done by re-loading the couch during a couch multiball ... for EACH of the 5 characters ).
That alone will take about 45 minutes to achieve ! (if you're lucky... ).
...now you know why I haven't made the Alien Invasion Wizard mode yet !
I'm just thankful you don't need all 37 Cletus kids as well !
(...not to mention all the other surprises like the TreeHouse of Horrors, Captain Pete's treasure chest, the nuclear meltdown, etc... )
Now you know why I think it's the deepest ruleset in Pinball..
Steph
You're confused. Alien invasion is the last mode once you've done all the others (same idea as "There and back again" from LOTR). What your describing is what you need to acheive the WIZARD MODE.. The wizard mode IS NOT alien invasion. Alien invasion is just a terribly difficult multiball to complete - which is 1 of the 6 goals in getting to the wizard mode.
Mike
Currently owning: ============ MAME in Sega cab with 25" arcade monitor (Has a 12" Bazooka powered subwoofer in it) - Not for sale Williams Civic Center Shuffle Alley (Puck Bowler) (1973) - 350$ Seeburg LS1 "Spectra" Jukebox (1967) - 300$
Currently babysitting =============== Heavy Metal Meltdown SOLD - leaving soon
Previously owned ============= Hot Tip, Countdown, HS, WWF, TFTC, T2, RS, Pinbot, Laser War, LOTR, Flinstones, FH, DM, STTNG, Getaway, Silver Slugger, Laser Ball, Bad Cats, Batman Forever, Meteor, TZ, Galaxy, 6MDM, TSPP, MB.
You're confused. Alien invasion is the last mode once you've done all the others (same idea as "There and back again" from LOTR). What your describing is what you need to acheive the WIZARD MODE.. The wizard mode IS NOT alien invasion. Alien invasion is just a terribly difficult multiball to complete - which is 1 of the 6 goals in getting to the wizard mode.
Mike
I see... ... Mr. Smarty Pants !
So not only are you telling me I haven't able to get to anywhere near the Wizard Mode, but now I learn I haven't even been able to complete the "normal" Alien Invasion Multiball...
great...., more TSPP practice for me...
Steph (... and no, I have not seen the Pretzel MultiBall either ....)
I think LOTR is a great game and definately comparable to TSPP. I have been playing TSPP everyday for months now and still enjoy it and look forward to it each time I play. I really do love how in depth the game is and with all my playing have not completed everything to get the SDMEWM - Super Duper Mega Extreme Wizard Mode.
There are only 27 cletis kids and when you finish 27 kids and kit cletis again you get pretzel multiball. Alien Invasion when you finish all of the modes gives you 45seconds + 5seconds for each mode you completed successfully. You must lock 2 then 3 then 4 then 5 balls. each time you must lock all balls without losing any or you go back down, down, down. I have completed this once and had 65 seconds to do so - barely made it.
Mystery spot is when you have completed all of the Otto 2X hits. Flippers are reversed and it is damn hard...
Those items are nothing compared to what you have to do to get to the SDMEWM. I have gotten as close as 4 out of the six items required but that is still not even close!!
Here is the info for those that would even consider trying to accomplish this:
I found the ruleset on LOTR too deep to be enjoyable (I find this with TSPP too). I never had the skill to get anywhere in the game. I enjoy a machine you can just have a good time playing.
This spring I got rid of my LOTR and got a ST:TNG, which, although there is still a lot to do in the game, it's not as "busy" as LOTR, and ultimately I find it a far more enjoyable game. It's something I can achieve a degree of success in, each time I play, and it's something I find myself steadily improving on.
With LOTR, I hit a plateau, which I was never able to get past, and that ended up getting frustrating after awhile.
As far as quality, I was disgusted that with minimal use, the graphics around the flipper buttons started to wear. It's nice to see that Stern is beginning to extend the metal of the side rail to include a flap that covers the cabinet around the flipper button, but why wouldn't they have done this from the beginning?
When I spend multi-thousands of dollars on a brand-new machine, my expectation is that I won't have to deal with crap like this. Even the Data East machines I've had, which are of a lower quality, when you look at the cabinet and graphic manufacturing process, had the flipper button metal shields.
If Stern wants to be successful in marketing to the home market, they're going to have to take these things into consideration. Collectors expect a higher level of quality, and since Stern is aware a significant percentage of their sales are now specifically going to the home market, I'm surprised they haven't looked at Williams as a "gold standard", and tried to match that.
When I bought LOTR, if it had cost $500 more, but guaranteed a higher level of manufacturing quality, I wouldn't have balked, considering what I paid in the first place.
"My power comes from my boundless rage"
** Getting Out **All that's left: (Vids) Bubbles**MAKE AN OFFER!**
LOTR is the best game i've owned (I've previously owned: CFTBL, MB, STTNG, TOTAN, WH2O, BSD, TZ, CV).
It is not, however, a perfect game. In fact it has some severe problems (weak flippers, crappy POTD design are the main culprits, ugly plastics). What I realized after owning the machine is that DESPITE these issues, this game is still the best I've owned and very possibly the best pin ever.
I like it so much I'm thinking of selling my very nice (but routed) LOTR for a minty HUO one. Anyone want to trade down and make some easy cash?
"If a movie is described as a romantic comedy, you can usually find me next door playing pinball." -George Carlin
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I have been playing this game for a few months now and I have to say I am really enjoying it, A heck of a lot more than I thought I would. I bought it based on the popular opinion, you know, Not Williams, but pretty darn good, Especially for a Stern and knowing it probably wouldn't be to tough to sell if I wanted too. 
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