The Hobbit Jersey Jack Pinball

[Retropin]

That difference in pricing only applies til Feb to my knowledge, and then the price is the same for everyone.....

I was also under the impression that anyone ordering now gets the discounted price until feb when it goes up slightly....this is according to Bumper as of apx 4 or 5 days ago....

The prob with the JJP selling model, is that if u dont buy a LE model upfront, u can only buy the std model, which costs more money, has less features, and resale will be harder with a std model than a LE model......it sort of discourages anyone to buy a machine unless u score the LE......cause if u miss the LE, u have to pay more for less.....thats a hard sell.....

maybe JJP should do a 2 tier LE model....both are LE, but just cosmetic differences like Sterns 2 x LE models.....say 1000 Emerald green WOZ and say 1000 Purple Woz........or same with Hobbitt.....1500 Hobbit LE Red...1500 Hobbitt LE Blue.......doubles your LE availability...but keeps each individual LE to 1000 or 1500 only....smarter marketing.....

traditionally, u shld be selling 2 or 3 times the std model to the LE, but the JJP model hasnt been able to do that yet according to Bumper....1000 LE Woz sold, less than 100 std Woz sold....2 x cosmetically different LE models from JJP could be a huge winner....

Its too complicated Cavey... sterns modelling is bloody confusing, i still havent quite got my head around how many different models there are and what features you lose... its a convaluted mess.

JJP model is fine - 2 machines.. 1 with bling, one without - same game all round.
ALL LE's are SOLD out.. the standard model will sell no problems once the game is out. The collectability of the LE is huge.. 1st game off the ranks and limited amount.. its a collectors dream.
If the game plays like a dead shoe then standard model will no doubt not sell as well as expected, but if Jacks done the game right then its a seller - no doubt

[ajlaird]

The movie will be great, and the pinball machine LE will sell out.

[Caveoftreasures]

QUESTION - Is anyone on Aussie Pinball ordering/purchasing the LE Hobbitt Pinball on the payment plan to lock in a LE Hobbitt ? 

OR

Is anyone interested, but going to wait to see the actual finished product before putting any money down ? 

[Strangeways]

The movie will be great, and the pinball machine LE will sell out.

This is definite. Great theme.

[coon82]

Given that the Hobbit has been out for a couple of weeks now, for those who have seen the movie what did you think? Do you think this will translate into a great pinball?

I thought the movie was great and with the pinball being based on all three movies, it should have lots to do on it. From what I've seen with WOZ I reckon it's fair to say we can expect the same attention to detail this time around. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's in store with the toys and the artwork. The LCD will really bring The Hobbit pinball to life.

I wonder when JJP will release the first major teaser of information (other than the theme)? Time will tell...

[GORGAR 1]

I agree it is an awesome theme and will great to watch this evolve.

Peter

[dendoc]

Went to see the movie WITHOUT the kids! oldest is only 9, so too scary for them. i don' t think you need blood and gore to make a good film, the suspense and battle scenes in this one are even better than LOTR.
I don't think you can equate the quality of the movie with that of the machine, purely depends on the imagination of the designers/programmers.
I'd love to put a deposit down on a Hobbit, but not without seeing WOZ playablity first!

[Caveoftreasures]

Went to see the movie WITHOUT the kids! oldest is only 9, so too scary for them. i don' t think you need blood and gore to make a good film, the suspense and battle scenes in this one are even better than LOTR.
I don't think you can equate the quality of the movie with that of the machine, purely depends on the imagination of the designers/programmers.
I'd love to put a deposit down on a Hobbit, but not without seeing WOZ playablity first!

That is excellent feedback. I am going to watch it today now that u have said it is good. Perhaps JJPs Hobbitt pinball will be even bigger than WOZ....If the movies are good, the pinny should be good.

[Caveoftreasures]

I went and saw the movie today........
It is sooo VERY much like the first 3 movies in so many ways. It went for almost 3 hours.

The movie was fun, but nothing really different from the others before it. Reasonably predictable in many many ways, but that made it a good movie, not a bad train wreck which it could have been quite easily...It did drag on some times but I think that was to make it fun for kids, espescially the first half of the movie.
It should make for a good pinball machine from JJP........?     If the JJP Hobbit pinball is to be something special, it will need to have massively great artwork, incl cabinet, translite and playfield. What will make it or break it will be the design of the playfield toys and the interraction they play with the game......

I am betting that Stern will relook at a re-release of another, more modern version of the Lord of the Rings pinball from yester-year since Gary recently spoke about renewing the LOTR licence.......

The movie company will have to do something very special to make the next movie not predictable, because the Hobbit was definately predictable, and the way the movie finished, its very easy n clear how the whole next movie will play out......The movie people played it far too safe with this Hobbit version in my opinion....It needs something thrown in that we all havent seen before, or have even thought would/could appear in the next 2 x follow up movies.....

[swinks]

here is some artwork

from his newsletter
We are extremely excited to announce Jeff Busch as our Artist for The Hobbit Pinball Machine. Jeff has already been working on the game and we can show the beginning of his work. In the same idea as on WOZ, the left side of The Hobbit begins with the first movie and will wrap its way around to the right side with the assets of the second and third movie.   
 
Jeff said, "I'm very excited to be joining the JJP Team! To be part of a group of such incredibly talented people with so many years' experience under their collective belt is a dream come true. And the fact that "The Hobbit" is my first game with them is just the Middle-Earth icing on the cake". 
 
Jeff made his mark on the pinball industry with games like Baywatch, Pinball Magic, Batman Forever, and Apollo 13. To see some of Jeff's work visit,
http://www.jeffbuschcreative.com/.
 
JP deWin is working his magic on animation for The Hobbit as he did for WOZ and we will show some of that tease in the next few days. 
 
JP says, "I'm very happy to continue my work for JJP and I'm looking forward to work on The Hobbit. Being a huge Lord of the Rings fan, The Hobbit for me is a great theme to work with. Can it get any better? Working in Pinball and animating Middle Earth!
I've learned a lot during the Wizard of Oz project. There's so many possibilities with the screen, they're endless. I'm glad I can now further explore how we can make even better use of the LCD".
We are also pleased to announce Ted Estes as a JJP Software Programmer. Ted will assist Keith in finishing up WOZ as well as The Hobbit. Ted is well known in the industry for his work on games like Twilight Zone, Demolition Man, and Road Show.Click here to view a write up about Ted Estes on Pinball News.
 
For those who have pre-ordered a Limited Edition Hobbit Pinball Machine, please check your payment schedule as you may have a payment due on or before 2/15. We are closing in on the 1,000 sold mark and now in releasing artwork we expect more to be sold.

[Pop Bumper Pete]

What has surprised me is that the local distributor has not gotten a list of  Australian WoZ buyers from Jack and gotten out there and be promoting this machine

[Caveoftreasures]

My first impression is that the artwork is too dark n dreary. At first glance, the styling is so close to Sterns original LOTR colours/style that i thought it was a Stern machine not a JJP machine.
Like all movie titles, this machines artwork will have its hands tied by the movie licencing moguls who will dictate everything so expect it to be predictable which it is so far.
Dont get me wrong, it will probably look upmarket when u first see it etc, and it will be something that you see more n more in the artwork the more u look at it, but its very sombre and dark at this stage.

It also needs gold lockdown bar n gold legs. It will probably change alot over the next 12 to 24 months. So far, so good with some tweaks. 
(I noticed the JJP asking for money bit, made me wonder who is liking or disliking that when its aired publically when Woz aint out yet.....)

[GORGAR 1]

I actually like it good theme this time but time will tell maybe a non licensed theme next time?

Peter

[Strangeways]

What has surprised me is that the local distributor has not gotten a list of  Australian WoZ buyers from Jack and gotten out there and be promoting this machine

Not surprising at all. There has been ZERO promotion of WOZ or Hobbit. No one in Australia outside of forums knows anything about these games.

I like the artwork - it is consistent with LOTR as the theme is basically the same. So no surprises there. The more I see that big ugly LCD, the less interest I have in buying a JJP. They need to revert back to a smaller screen. If I want to watch cut scenes, I'll watch the movie. It is a pinball that should not have distractions away from the playfield except to check your scores or play the "video mode".

Early pictures (lower cabinet) look great.

[Caveoftreasures]

Once people see that LCD and the clarity and the excellent content of material, I think most will like it alot, espescially people who are watching someone else playing a game because it gives them alot more visual stimulation with both colour n movement.

In the flesh, WOZ and Hobbitts LCD should be awesome and will probably win alot of people over just with the LCD and widebody alone, not to mention the lighting everywhere.

The LCD also sets JJP apart from the rest which is a good thing. Operators can utilize the LCD during attract mode inbetween games, and even JJP can advertise their next up n coming title on the lCD.

I think it is here to stay and in a big way personally.
Still dying to see a JJP machine in action. Should be very special.