When AMD in Sydney has a launch party for the release of any pinball machine, Bruce (Managing Director) and his staff warmly welcome ANYBODY on the planet to attend and give honest feedback.
When I have attended and met all different pinheads from all over Australia, its usually a 50/50 mix of blokes who are IN the industry (operators who site machines) and the usual home collector. I have found, that each n every time there is a release party, there are always new people there, some who have no machines, some with 3 or 4 machines, some with fifty etc, but everyone gets along, has a play, has a good chat, gives honest feedback in a respectful way, and it is always far from a "yes man" party/atmosphere.
What the consensus is, from my experience, is that a 75/25 split have great feedback on the machine, with three quarters of the people loving the new title, and a quarter being warm/cold. And why it has worked so well, is that the Stern dealers always know, that if you don't buy this title, its fine, no problems, cause they will help u out on the next title because Stern do 3 or 4 titles and over a dozen variants per annum. So there is never any pressure to buy, just a warm welcome which is why I have great respect for Bruce and the guys at AMD, always very professional, and always open to any feedback, good or bad.
If anybody hasn't been to a new title release at AMD in Sydney, its definitely worth the $99 airplane ticket to attend if u are interstate.
Personally, I really am dying to hear the finished audio on Mustang pinball. If its done right, it shld be a ripper. Just my 10 cents worth.lol
