Number of features in a DMD game - old games, Pro's and LE comparison

[swinks]

Soon to be released is the Avengers Pinball and because of the recent trend with Stern doing Pro's and then Premiums / LE's, with the Pro's having less features got me thinking what is the comparison to other games in recent years to those of the nineties to see if the Premium's / LE actually have more features of if Pro's are similar to older games.

I encourage you help with this little bit of research so it can clarify what's happening and if there is a link between the great games or the crap games based on features alone, keeping themes out of it.

Note: don't count pops or lane guides at the top of a machine as they are pretty much in every game


So to start it up are the 2 machines that I currently own:

Creature from the Black Lagoon
11 Features
4 ramps (with the fourth being the ramp to the whirlpool bowl via the multi ball diverter),
2 tunnels,
4 targets
1 x VUK but not included as the ramp is counted already


Iron Man
22 Features
2 x ramps,
7 x iron man targets
4 x drone targets
2 x whip lash targets
3 x spinners,
1 x war machine kickback
1 x iron monger lift up toy
2 x magnets)
not counted - 2 x pop up posts (used more for slowing the game down so the monger can come up etc)


so to help could those with say the recent games like a AC/DC Pro and LE do a count up as well as a X-Men Pro and Premium just to see what the game differences are and those with older games - A's and B's machine share with everyone a feature list. I counted all the targets on Iron Man for example where in actual fact 7 alone are for the Iron Man goal but to keep it consistent count up all targets as a total.

I will have to study the Avengers photos to determine how it rates as it may be interesting that a pro has the equivalent features to no:1 machines and we are being blind sided by the wow and more features of a LE equals more dollars but could mean a game is getting too complex or just a little over the top where a Pro may be on par with pre LE games ????.

[Caveoftreasures]

Might be a good idea Swinksy if u did the Sterns by looking at the Playfield art section on Stern USA which has ALL Stern playfields, and you can use the flyers on Sterns website to go playfield by playfield on recent models still in production. You might get a more consistant result that way ?.
Since u have an idea of how u are counting or listing the Stern features.

Maybe other members could put their hand up to do a certain brand, or their machines then send the info to you, and you could then post the data.
Just a suggestion to make it look neater. Its only a thought/suggestion.
Also, sometimes too many features (ramps, locks, pop ups, drops, pops, mechanical toys etc) on a game can ruin it, or slow it right down.
More does not always mean better.

Good thread.

[swinks]

Avengers Pro
24 Features
2 x ramps,
4 x hulk drop targets
4 x thor targets
3 x tesseract targets
1 x hulk smash targets
3 x shield agent targets
1 x spinner
1 x spinning cosmic cube,
1 x hulk target figure
1 x magnet feature
1 x combined ball diverter
1 x kick out
1 x multi ball ball lock



So interestingly it has a total of 24 features which is very similar to the Iron Man which is enough for a good gaming experience, as for the Avengers LE having just a couple more so still lots to do on the Pro and LE.

Can anyone else add some details of X-men, AC/DC and Tron as would be interesting to compare.

[Pop Bumper Pete]

Star Trek (Bally 70's)
13(?) features
4 drop targets
5 targets
1 saucer
1 return lane
1 lane with star rollovers
2 lanes (behind the drops)

[Greg]

T3
18 features

1 drop target
3 metal ramps
(did not include ball launch ramp)
1 VUK
1 cannon feature/ starts multi ball/ ball lock
1 kick back
7 stand ups
1 quick draw (shoot the gun) feature (DMD)
1 “RED” timed feature capture ball + 1 target
1 Video Game/feature (DMD)
1 RPG game via back box

[swinks]

thanks guys for the input so far, I would love to know the number of features for the the top 3 machines like
- Medieval Madness
- Twilight Zone
- Attack from Mars
as a comparison

[Greg]

CSI
16 features

1 ramp feeding 1 Wire form
1 Skull/rising/lowering ramp 2 ball lock
1 The centrifuge spinning disc
(also gives it a shaker motor feel when the
centrifuge is spinning)
3 drop targets (CSI)
5 standup targets
1 saucer
1 VUK  feeding a stand alone Wire form ramp
2 spinners
1 1 x microscope magnet feature

this game like most late model Sterns use pop up post(s) (not counted)
custom stamped ball shooter handle (not counted)
camera flash timed to the pop bumpers ( not counted)

[Greg]

Big Bang Bar
32 features

1 ramp  with
2 diverters &
1 interactive arrow ramp decal
1 green tube ramp
2 wire form diverter
1 black light feature
2 coloured wire forms / black light feature
1 saucer kick out
1 two spinning drunks / double ball lock
1  tube dancer glow in the dark
1 spinner
6 stand up targets
1 roll over target/ secret passage
 7 drop targets
1  (3) ball lock via ramp
1 spinners
1 ball buster feature (captured horse shoe)
1 kick back

[pinnies4me]

Big Bang Bar
32 features

1 ramp  with
2 diverters &
1 interactive arrow ramp decal
1 green tube ramp
2 wire form diverter
1 black light feature
2 coloured wire forms / black light feature
1 saucer kick out
1 two spinning drunks / double ball lock
1  tube dancer
1 spinner
6 stand up targets
1 roll over target/ secret passage
 7 drop targets
1 ramp (3) ball lock
1 spinners
1 ball buster feature
1 kick back

I had been thinking about BBB Greg in fact yesterday after looking at this thread - big list!!

[Olivia_jason]

edit,----------

[Greg]

I dont think its Flippers going by what others have counted and not Slings , pop bumpers

I just roughly followed Swinks lead  although I would be willing to argue a few things
that Jady left on the cutting room floor

[swinks]

Not to be anal, but I thought that this thread is interesting but also a guide for the casual player to select a machine based on features. So reckon if we maintained a consistency of layout

Game Name (full name)
No of Festures

list the features but since every machine has flippers, lane guides, sling shots and pops we can leave those off to keep it simple and clear = less to write and well they are a standard item. As for targets I thought just tally them all up unless like on IM the Whiplash 2 targets act as one (I think) so only counted as one so left a note. Also pop up posts may be a feature or slow the ball up like on IM so I didn't list in the tally.


Thanks for the invlovement guys as it is interesting, and obviously the art and rules then have a major affect as well but this thread is more about features. Keep up the good work.

Boy the BBB has alot of features.

[swinks]

I dont think its Flippers going by what others have counted and not Slings , pop bumpers

I just roughly followed Swinks lead  although I would be willing to argue a few things
that Jady left on the cutting room floor

don't argue, happy to agree and go from there  , rather have a consistency. like every game has 2 slings and 2 flippers but if a game has a extra flipper yes add it as a feat5ure but maybe with a note (third flipper)

thoughts - it's still earlier days and each guy to go back and slightly edit.

Jady

[Greg]

I dont think its Flippers going by what others have counted and not Slings , pop bumpers

I just roughly followed Swinks lead  although I would be willing to argue a few things
that Jady left on the cutting room floor

don't argue, happy to agree and go from there  , rather have a consistency. like every game has 2 slings and 2 flippers but if a game has a extra flipper yes add it as a feat5ure but maybe with a note (third flipper)

thoughts - it's still earlier days and each guy to go back and slightly edit.

Jady

I agree with the flippers, Pops and slings being left out

what I was waiting  for was some one  counting the Top magnets on Sega's  SST  and other Sega games  that feed the in lanes, that feature is basically doing the job of a pop up post  as on IM CSI  etc.

[swinks]

I dont think its Flippers going by what others have counted and not Slings , pop bumpers

I just roughly followed Swinks lead  although I would be willing to argue a few things
that Jady left on the cutting room floor

don't argue, happy to agree and go from there  , rather have a consistency. like every game has 2 slings and 2 flippers but if a game has a extra flipper yes add it as a feat5ure but maybe with a note (third flipper)

thoughts - it's still earlier days and each guy to go back and slightly edit.

Jady

I agree with the flippers, Pops and slings being left out

what I was waiting  for was some one  counting the Top magnets on Sega's  SST  and other Sega games  that feed the in lanes, that feature is basically doing the job of a pop up post  as on IM CSI  etc.

I think to keep it simple if you feel a item is a feature that isn't the standard, list it and state if counting as one of the features or not at least people can read and decide. When I think abput it the pop up post on IM that feeds to the pops is purely a slow down feature so the iron monger can raise up (possible to same damage and allow for a dmd action sequence to be played). The very top pop up post is probably a game play feature - I suppose comes down to personal view.

Thanks for clarifying Greg and agree detail the features and if you counted or not and then allows people to at least see the total and details.