Here is a pin that I read about and some of you already know about, but this is the first video of the new Canasta pin and I have to say that it looks amazing! Great lights, fast and it uses a flat screen. Check it out, looks like the Europeans are offering a decent alternative.

http://www.youtube.com/results.....4Sp4bZi3Alvme2nMt_mw

Seems well done, but a bit light on coils?   Only 3 pops and 2 flippers to bang the ball around, no slings or drops.  

The backglass display seems pretty good for a first attempt.

I think the pin looks alright if you're into early SS games but I don't see this
being an alternative to what Stern has to offer.  

I understand this is a first attempt so maybe in the future they will
design a more 'modern' style table but until then I don't see a huge market
for this pin, but what do I know?

I realize that this is no Ironman like pin but what appeals to me are the colours (kind of like a Zaccaria pin), the use of an LCD vs DMD, it is fast and it did not look like there would be 10 minute ball times. Heck, they even can show advertising which can bring in different revenue streams which is intriguing. All in all, it is at least another company making a serious go at it which means competition that leads to innovation, which means that there is more interest and possibilities. We all saw what a monopoly could do to a company when for a short while some pins were shall we say, less than reliable. And reliability for this new pin still needs to be proven.

This is no holy grail but a sniff of competition is good for the industry. Now I am going back to watch the world cup!

I'm all for it... I wish Stern would reproduce some single level classics.   What would it cost to reproduce something like Firepower?  $2500 at most?  I'm interested to see what this sells for, I think it looks great.

I really also like that they're re-thinking pinball mechanics - magnet detecting speed, no-lock coils, what great ideas.  Hopefully Stern picks up a few ideas, instead of just watching movies and making toys.
My humble 2 cents, though!
Daniel

Pretty cool!

They might be using some different ideas, but the gameplay itself looks primitive compared to US made machines of the past 20 years.

Ib fact I know of some 30 year old pins that blow away this playfield layout. Lighting, sounds, TFT display all adds up to nada if the gameplay lacks.

Quoted from McMean

I'm all for it... I wish Stern would reproduce some single level classics.   What would it cost to reproduce something like Firepower?  $2500 at most?  I'm interested to see what this sells for, I think it looks great.

Oh, puh-leeeeeease. If Stern was going to reproduce classic titles, they sure as hell wouldn't be doing Williams machines. Stern has plenty of great classics to draw from without having to consider licensing and all the BS that would go with making someone else's titles.

Quoted from wbradley

They might be using some different ideas, but the gameplay itself looks primitive compared to US made machines of the past 20 years.

Ib fact I know of some 30 year old pins that blow away this playfield layout. Lighting, sounds, TFT display all adds up to nada if the gameplay lacks.

Meh.... I disagree.  I think it looks great for what it is - a single level table.  They're obviously not trying to compete directly with the ADD pinball crowd, so of course it looks primitive.

Quoted from cooke

Oh, puh-leeeeeease. If Stern was going to reproduce classic titles, they sure as hell wouldn't be doing Williams machines. Stern has plenty of great classics to draw from without having to consider licensing and all the BS that would go with making someone else's titles.

True dat.  Just was trying to think of single level good multiball game...  Catacomb?  Flight2000?  

Quoted from wbradley

They might be using some different ideas, but the gameplay itself looks primitive compared to US made machines of the past 20 years.

I agree to some extent. It's hard to tell gameplay, but the sounds are very primitive. Doesn't appear to be any consistent background music and the sounds are beeps. Sounds like crap.

The sounds, as they are, are not very exciting. Compare it to Gorgar, Black Knight, Nine Ball, the list goes on and games from over 20 to 30 years ago sound better.  On the plus side, this can easily be corrected through the software.

The light show in attract mode seems pretty basic as well.

I realize they aren't competing with Stern, but they will need to make some improvements to make an impact.

Overall playfield looks attractive, but pretty basic. This is their first game so they could make some incredible improvements with the next game and the game after that. Remember Stern's first original game (under the Stern name) was the horrible Striker Extreme. It took Stern a few games before they started producing some decent titles, so it should be interesting to see what this company can do over time.

Anyone know what these are selling for?  

Cheers.
Duane