Why colour is vital to pinball’s future

[Pavlov Pinball]

Hi all,

I've been talking to Jersey Jack and Dutch Pinball about colour displays and how best to get information to players when they are playing complex games. If you're interested the write-up is here:

http://pavlovpinball.com/why-colour-is-vital-to-pinballs-future/

Part 2, which will be up soon, will have George Gomez and Stern's views in the subject.

Cheers,

Paul

[Pop Bumper Pete]

I have not read your article, but the rules should be simple enough that I can understand them from looking at the playfield
Who has time to look up at a screen?

[Cow Corner]

 

[pinnies4me]

I have not read your article, but the rules should be simple enough that I can understand them from looking at the playfield
Who has time to look up at a screen?

I agree - if the game cannot be made in a way that allows a player to learn the rules using the lit lamps etc, and **has** to read a display to determine what to do, then I am really not interested in it.

The DMD (or LCD if things end up that way) was just a nifty replacement for alpha numeric displays allowing for a single unit. I do like the little extras it allows, but only as a compliment to good game play, and entertainment for player 2 - if it overwhelms the game, or the game is not good enough game play wise to stand on its own without the display, then unless it goes the whole way like P2K then I don't care less.

[pinsanity]

Screen oriented tech is the evolution of pinball to make it appeal to the next generation.

The ball isn't wild anymore, its become boring and predictable.

Good article Pavlov, thanks for sharing.

[Homepin]

Screen oriented tech is the evolution of pinball to make it appeal to the next generation.

The ball isn't wild anymore, its become boring and predictable.

That's your opinion which I respect BUT disagree with.

[Greg]

is a colour  LCD/ DMD nice to watch?
yes if I'm looking over your shoulder   while you are playing

but when I'm playing  I don't care whats happening on the display nor do I care
if its a colour DMD/LCD or 4 shades on a DMD

which ever way pinball goes,   having a colour display is not whats going to get me to hand over money
it will always be "how good is the game play  and the sound/voice/music ",  colour displays would be the last thing  I'm interested in.

[oldskool1969]

You are all old fuddy duddies. 
Ain't nothin wrong with a bit of wank factor! It is what it is and let's face it, LCD is way cheaper than plasma and anything for the onlookers to get interested in is GOOD for pinball, which is GOOD for us all.
Maybe we should go back to bagatelle as well since you don't like looking at the display?
Bring on full stereo sound too, more use of tech the better, remember when pinball was at the forefront of technology?
That is my opinion.

[Caveoftreasures]

Colour screens etc means progress and a better show whilst playing or watching others. Progress for pinball will probably mean a wider base to promote pinball to. Sterns consistent new technologies are a breath of fresh air combined with clever engineering and marketing. Most people love free upgrades and new and improved technologies. Pinball has never been so modern . It's now 2014 stuff with 2015 features. Got to love that cutting edge engineering. Sales are booming for all new machines.

[delarge]

I understand the purists, I understand the opinion that we're more worried about the playfield and what the ball is doing....BUT....we're living in 2014. What doesn't have a colour display these days? Same old argument. People will resist until the colour display is the norm.

Otherwise, what oldskool1969 said!

[Pavlov Pinball]

Hi peeps.

It's the end of a busy week, and I've finally finished the second part of the colour displays in pinball feature with an exclusive interview George Gomez about Stern's attitude and plans for colour displays in the future, and what the potential problems are.

If you are interested it's up at:

http://pavlovpinball.com/george-gomez-i ... -and-more/

Cheers,

Have a good weekend everyone,

Paul

[Pop Bumper Pete]

You seem to interviewing towards a predetermined conclusion, rather than asking for his perspective

IE; JJP has an LCD, when is Stern going to catch up?

[DSB]

younger players actually watch the pinball screen more than older ones.

I think this could be true. Being 37 (maybe not young but...) the first game I played seriously was a DMD machine. I find it natural to make a shot or ramp and instantly look at the display to see the graphic then back to the ball returning to the flipper. Maybe this is not the best way to play but it is how I learnt. I still laugh watching cousin it get smashed in the head while playing. I think if the colour display is cost effective, I can't see any problem with it. If you don't like it, don't watch it. The playfield should still direct your shots as it always has.

[Cow Corner]

Is it vital to all the people who are colour blind?
 

[solar value]

Wow! Great articles - thanks for all the work you are doing to report this stuff.

Great to hear Dutch Pinball's thoughts on the display:
“We will show multiple multiball modes with certain colours – blocks of colours will be used to show which modes are running,”
This sounds awesome, it is great that they are trying to make the display more intuitive.

Also interesting that Gomez refers to Multimorphic.

We are in exciting times. I think what we will see in the very near future (Expo) coming out of Dutch Pinball, Multimorphic, JJP and to some extent Heighway is going to change pinball forever and make the single-colour DMD look very dated indeed.