Message #140834

[swinks]

latest update from Pinballmike, with a full video of all features coming soon.

"Now that we’ve tallied up the final vendor costs, we’ve come up with the following pricing options for our LCD MOD:

(1) MOD without HD TV - $299.99 plus shipping
(2) MOD with HD TV - $439.99 plus shipping

If you decide to purchase your own TV (again, they are available at BestBuy for $120 plus sales tax) you’ll need to send us the power cable so we can modify it accordingly. All of the media files used in the MOD were designed specifically for the Insignia TV previously listed in this thread, so if you’re going to purchase your own TV make sure you get the right one. We decided to offer option (2) in case some folks have credit card points or BestBuy gift cards they’d like to use. Plus, option (2) will lower the shipping costs for the MOD as well; the TV is the biggest component for the MOD.

Interface Board Update:

Tony at GLM has finished the design (sorry for the delays, but we kept finding ways to improve the overall functionality of the boards – we’d rather get this right the first time) and we are now moving into production. Per Tony, we should be getting the first batch of interface boards in roughly 3 weeks. We’ll begin assembling MODs at that time. I’ll contact people, requesting payment, in the order they were added to the pre-order list. If you did not email me directly at pinballmiked@gmail.com then I have not put you on the list.

“So, what will I get if I buy this MOD?”

Good Question, you’ll get the following:

(1) One 18.5” HD TV with remote control (unless you decide to buy the TV yourself)
(2) One custom fabricated 1/8” steel TV mounting stand. The stand will be powder coated in a black crinkle finish, like standard Stern Hardware.
(3) One custom pending patented interface board designed to work with up to 8 unique game triggers.
(4) One CPU brain board – This is what drives the MOD, playing various media files based on the triggers registered by the interface board.
(5) All necessary cable harnesses needed to install the MOD (again, if you buy your own TV we’ll need you to provide us with the TV’s power cable – send it with payment).
(6) One HDMI cable
(7) One SD card
(8) All necessary mounting hardware needed to install the MOD

Our MOD is 100% plug and play and doesn’t require any permanent modifications be made to the actual game.

Initial Release Software Features:

(1) Two modes of operation (designed for free play setup)

(1a) Hologram Emulation Mode – When the MOD is setup in this mode it will function exactly like the original hologram. The LCD screen will be black except when the hologram is displayed. Images of the hologram will be flashed when “FILM” letters are awarded and the multiball video will display the hologram in motion. We used an NOS Hologram to create these media files. No, it isn’t 3D, but the Creature displayed is original and he’ll always be green. The only other video played in Hologram Emulation Mode is the “attract” video.

(1b) Our Custom Mode – This mode of operation will feature all of the items listed under items (2) through (6) below

(2) Custom Attract Video – played while game is in attract mode
(3) Custom Screen Saver Image – this is displayed during game play when no video files are running
(4) “FILM” Letter Awards – 4 different creature images are used. As “FILM” letters are awarded an image of the creature is displayed instead of an image of the hologram. The images are displayed in a random order.
(5) Custom Multiball Video – played once the creature is located during multiball. This replaces the hologram video.
(6) Mystery Video Modes – We are developing 4 new videos that will be displayed based on specific game play modes. Two of the 4 videos will definitely be incorporated in the initial release. I’ll have a video up on YouTube in another few weeks showing off these new features.

“How will future software up-dates work?”

Good question, if we can’t incorporate all 4 of the new “Mystery Video Modes” in the initial release then the first update will be free, you simply send us your SD card and pay for postage. As an alternative, we can provide a new SD card with updated software at cost plus postage.

“What are you planning on doing with the MOD in the future?”

We are working on developing the following:

(1) Additional “FILM” award images of the creature
(2) Animated screen saver video instead of static image
(3) A third mode of operation, this is in addition to the Hologram Emulation Mode and our Custom Mode, that will allow you to creature your own version of any video file displayed. In other words, your videos would be played instead of our custom videos. In order to do this we are developing a software package that will enable you to make your own videos. The software would take your video file and format it (rotate, position, and overlay our black bezel) to work with the 18.5” LCD TV.
(4) Integrate audio functionality into videos where applicable
(5) Whatever else we dream up until we are tired of playing CFTBL 

I’ll post more updates when we get the boards. Tony did a great job on these; they look fantastic.

Mike"