NeoGAF

Originally Posted by Jasoco

What's the difference between the free version and the $.99 version on the App Store?

The paid version gets you TOTAN (which you have to buy within the free version). That's the only difference. If you're going to buy TOTAN anyway, you should probably get the paid version- that way you won't have the words "Free" in the app title.

And of those first four tables, I like TOTAN (Arabian Nights) the best, so that was a sweet include. But man, after playing the 3DS Pinball Hall of Fame, this version just seems missing something. I can't wait for the 3DS Pinball Arcade, I'm gonna hold out on buying the other three tables until I can play them in 3D with the dot matrix display on its own top screen.

I so hope they can get the Addams Family table in there. I want to do the mamoushka!

Originally Posted by AMUSIX

Just a small bump to add the Android release date to the OP.....that date being today.


Also, I can't stop playing Black Hole. Keeping the re-entry gate open is so difficult, I'm finding I don't care about the score anymore, as long as I have a successful re-entry.

And learning to play Ripley's a bit. I've only played the real table once or twice, so it's interesting to learn a pin completely digitally. Just hope they get a patch out to make it run a bit more smoothly, because if Ripley's like this, I fear for something like Cirqus Voltaire.

Black Hole is fantastic and for some reason I really like games that have simpler rule sets. You do know how to open the re-entry gate, right? There are a couple ways, but the easiest is to complete one of the rows of drop targets on the lower level and then not hit any of the jet bumpers before the ball leaves the lower playfield.

I really wish they'd have included Game Center at launch so I could try to beat other GAFers' scores.

Yeah, I know how to open the gate...keeping it open is the hard part for me. Oh well, going to go get some practice on the real thing in a few days, so we'll see how I do then.


And, yes, lack of Game Center's a bitch...but it's coming by April. Also, they're pushing through the fix for the facebook leaderboards to Apple within the next few days, so there'll be that.

I just want Creature from the Black Lagoon and Dr. Dude to hit. Tables I know I like, but I'm not entirely familiar with.

I think I need to get an iPad. This game feels awkward to play on the iphone for me at least. Not sure if a landscape mode would help. But I'm still looking forward to the xbox version 110% because I know how that plays from the past collections.

I'm really enjoying this so far. I love how complete the simulation is, even kicking out the saved balls at the end of the game. It feels like real pinball, which I guess is the highest compliment.

The Ripley table is a little busy for my taste, I will say.

Downloaded it on my iPhone 4 last night and it runs great. The issue I have with it is the same as with Zen on the iPhone - it's too uncomfortable for me to hold the phone like that. If there was a landscape mode, that might help. Framerate is great, graphics and audio are nice, but I'd prefer to play it on something with buttons (not the 3DS. I hate Zen Pinball on that because of how awful it looks and how small the screen is). If my wife gets an iPad 3, I'll check it out there and possibly also on Vita. I do miss the days when I had time to go to an arcade and play real pinball.

Originally Posted by Baconsammy

Downloaded it on my iPhone 4 last night and it runs great. The issue I have with it is the same as with Zen on the iPhone - it's too uncomfortable for me to hold the phone like that. If there was a landscape mode, that might help. Framerate is great, graphics and audio are nice, but I'd prefer to play it on something with buttons (not the 3DS. I hate Zen Pinball on that because of how awful it looks and how small the screen is). If my wife gets an iPad 3, I'll check it out there and possibly also on Vita. I do miss the days when I had time to go to an arcade and play real pinball.

Someone pointed out upthread that there is landscape mode, you just have to rotate the device while you're on the menus, not in-game (like you can do with Zen).

Anyhow I've spent more time with it (and bought all the tables), and I'm feeling a bit better about it now than I was earlier. It's a good selection of tables for launch, particularly Black Hole and Theatre of Magic. (I agree with whoever said Ripley's is way too busy, though.) The table guide is just as good as it was in Williams Collection (Zen sorely needs this). The physics do feel good, although I would almost say they're too fast - having a hard time trapping on a flipper when a ball is coming through a lane, which seems unrealistic.

The game also runs much better on an iPad 1 than Zen does - it's actually playable! As Minsc said, the textures are really muddy, but hopefully that can be addressed.

And as an iOS specific complaint, I get that they're doing a "have you purchased this table yet" check whenever you open a table, but prompting the user to log into their store account every time you open a table is clumsy and borderline dangerous.

Still - quite happy, happy to see more tables coming, and will buy all of the tables (probably twice, if there's a Steam release). I also think that the variable pricing across the tables bodes well for Addams Family or Twilight Zone, as the one that's the most expensive (Ripley, $3.99) is the one that has a specific non-pinball license.

Originally Posted by Minsc

There is a landscape mode, so you can see for yourself! :)

Thanks Minsc (and Boo)! I thought they left landscape mode out but it looks like you have to switch to landscape in the main menu, before starting a game. I was trying to switch mid-game, silly me. Playing feels much more comfortable in landscape.

Getting multiball on Black Hole is the most frustrating thing I've ever experienced. Fuck Super Meat Boy, this ish is hard.

What time is it likely to be up on Android Market? And does anyone know if it is planned for Amazon Android App Market? I only have a Kindle Fire... :(

Originally Posted by Minsc

Maybe down the road keeping an updated, brief list of released tables with pics in one area of the OP would be useful, with another list for upcoming/rumored and possibly a third wish list of good tables not mentioned, if that's even feasible.

I was going to add images of each table as its released (of the real playfield, as I've done with the first four) and was also going to keep the confirmed list updated. I believe I've left enough room in the OP to be able to handle quite a few tables. Rumors and likely tables I'll leave to in the thread itself, as I think the OP should be solid info.

As for 'good tables not mentioned'....I'd need to appropriate the first few replies for a list that size :)

Originally Posted by jvm

What time is it likely to be up on Android Market? And does anyone know if it is planned for Amazon Android App Market? I only have a Kindle Fire... :(

from Farsight: "We won't be in the Amazon store yet, but we're working on it."

And as an iOS specific complaint, I get that they're doing a "have you purchased this table yet" check whenever you open a table, but prompting the user to log into their store account every time you open a table is clumsy and borderline dangerous.

I haven't had this happen to me at all?

Originally Posted by AMUSIX

from Farsight: "We won't be in the Amazon store yet, but we're working on it."

Thanks.

To Farsight: TAKE MY MONEY! FASTER!

Wow, Theater of Magic is a great table. I'd have to say that's my favorite of the 4 launch tables.

Originally Posted by AMUSIX

I haven't had this happen to me at all?

It doesn't happen after you buy a specific table, but before I bought the tables, every time I selected one, there was a "Connecting..." prompt of a few seconds, and then a prompt for my store login if I didn't have a session going, and then a screen saying "DO YOU WANT TO BUY THIS FOR JUST $X?".

It actually spared me pain when I later grabbed everything on my iPad (rather than having a "restore purchases" button), but it was still really obtrusive while I was trying to figure out if I liked all three tables enough to splash out initially.

Originally Posted by jvm

What time is it likely to be up on Android Market? And does anyone know if it is planned for Amazon Android App Market? I only have a Kindle Fire... :(

Root your kindle, that's what I did. It's not hard and takes all of a half hour

Originally Posted by BiggNife

Root your kindle, that's what I did. It's not hard and takes all of a half hour

Doesn't seem to matter right now for this one app. :( I still can't find the game up on the Android store and, as a corollary, it's also not up on the Amazon store.

I know: *whine whine* :P

The way the text is written it is confusing whether 800 yen gets me all future tables or just the other three launch tables??? Bring on xbla ver please...

Originally Posted by Gaspode_T

The way the text is written it is confusing whether 800 yen gets me all future tables or just the other three launch tables??? Bring on xbla ver please...

It's just the three launch tables. I believe it's called the "Three Pack of Launch Tables".

Works great on a Nexus S with ICS.

I picked this up for ipad. The controls are ass. ASS.

This should still be dope when it comes out for a real platform though.

I don't know if I would say ass, it's completely different feel than Pinball FX2...you will get lots of ball outs and be able to do nothing about it with real pinball table style (and that's how real tables are too...)

The price is high...if it was $1 for each table it would be easier to swallow, something bothers me about paying the same price I pay on XBLA for mobile version

Originally Posted by Gaspode_T

I don't know if I would say ass, it's completely different feel than Pinball FX2...you will get lots of ball outs and be able to do nothing about it with real pinball table style (and that's how real tables are too...)

The price is high...if it was $1 for each table it would be easier to swallow, something bothers me about paying the same price I pay on XBLA for mobile version

No, it's ass compared to The Williams Collection on 360/PS3. Table nudging on the ipad is not so great.

Ahhh, I really dislike the concept of table nudging/death saves so I just don't do it at all..

I wish there was a more overhead view in Pinball Arcade, it's close but I love my View 5 or whatever from FX2...(the almost full overhead one) It kicks up when you go into multiball, I want it to stay there...

no nudging? lol scrub

They should fix this facebook only leaderboard system soon, it is not okay to force people to use spyware.

..if you try to nudge tables in real life they tilt before you can do anything useful (unless you are some sort of nudge master or something), so I don't really see what's the point of making the high end scoring revolve around nudging to avoid ball out when kickbacks aren't activated...that seems to be a major technique for the top FX2 players but I don't even pretend to be anything more than mediocre FX2 player

They really, really need to let you have an overhead view when using the plunger to launch the ball. You cannot judge depth at all in the view they give you, it's completely unrealistic that anyone would move their viewpoint there. At least for T2 style games where you just push a button to launch the ball it won't be an issue! :)

The framerate in Ripley's is indeed awful compared to Arabian Nights, hopefully it gets patched soon, but I have a feeling it'll be sometime after all the releases are out.

Originally Posted by LamerDeluxe

They should fix this facebook only leaderboard system soon, it is not okay to force people to use spyware.

They said by April, after they finish finalizing all the other dozen ports releasing next month. They submitted an update to apple though:

Version 1.0.8 of the iOS versions have been posted and approved by Apple. This build will fix the known leaderboard issues. It might take a day before both versions are available for download, but please update to this version of your app when you can.

So at least we will get working facebook leaderboards, instead of completely nothing.

Yep, the leaderboards now work with the update. Finally got a multiball on Black Hole and was able to reach #12 on leaderboards. Feels good, man.

Boy, good to see after finally getting the leaderboards working, there's a cheater already. Black Hole has a 2,235,762,740 score posted. Next highest is 1.7M.

Ok, i think i´m done with the ipod touch version, tables are really really great, but controls in this kind of device are not, i need real buttons for this, not enough feedback imho.

I´ll wait for the console and pc versions.

The flipper controls are excellent on iPad. They should use the gyrometer for nudging and let people set the sensitivity on a slider.

Originally Posted by Tobor

The flipper controls are excellent on iPad. They should use the gyrometer for nudging and let people set the sensitivity on a slider.

You can set nudge to be shake, if that's what you're thinking. But, yeah, no slider.

This looks interesting. Will get it for PC if the controls and physics are good, and if it doesn't contain some weird DRM. A good leaderboard is also a must. This is why I can't stand the PSN mini version of Pinball Fantasies.

Runs great on my girlfriends Incredible S running android revolution(latest version).

Originally Posted by AMUSIX

You can set nudge to be shake, if that's what you're thinking. But, yeah, no slider.

Ah, didn't notice that. I'll have to try it.

Originally Posted by Minsc

They really, really need to let you have an overhead view when using the plunger to launch the ball. You cannot judge depth at all in the view they give you, it's completely unrealistic that anyone would move their viewpoint there.

Agree to this. Weird angle, and you can't see the ball and slider.

I just tried the Android version, which is very difficult to find in Android Market. It doesn't appear at all if your search for "Pinball Arcade" or even just "Pinball", but does appear if you search for "FarSight".

The sights and sounds are faithfully recreated, and the gameplay and ball physics are excellent as well. My main complaint right now is the controls. Earlier I said that I'd prefer to play with buttons, but this game really cries out for them. The tactile feel of a physical button feels much better for a pinball game than merely tapping the surface of a screen. The game supports tilting the device to nudge the ball, but I couldn't get it to work, and had to use the alternate method of nudging by tapping near the upper corners of the screen--which meant taking my fingers off the flippers.

Originally Posted by Minsc

They really, really need to let you have an overhead view when using the plunger to launch the ball. You cannot judge depth at all in the view they give you, it's completely unrealistic that anyone would move their viewpoint there.

I agree with this. Making accurate skill shots is very difficult with the angle they have now. Frankly, I'm surprised it got through testing like this. I hope they consider updating the game to include the choice of other camera angles for the plunger.

Originally Posted by Minsc

So at least we will get working facebook leaderboards, instead of completely nothing.

That's another complaint I have. I don't use Facebook at all, and have no intention of signing up for it. Hopefully when they move over to video game consoles, they'll instead use existing services like XBL and PSN for leaderboards.

As it stands now, I'd only recommend the Android version if it's the only platform that you are able to play the game on. (Based on other impressions in this thread, I'd assume the iOS version plays similar to this.) If you have a choice of platforms, though, I'd suggest at least waiting for the other versions to be released.

It is a bit choppy on my Desire HD (1Ghz Adreno 205 at 800 x 480), which is a shame because the vertical orientation of the display works well for pinball games.

Tried android free version, did nothing for me due to the wanky touch controls TBH.
It needs proper buttons for me to make it playable.

Originally Posted by Agent X

I just tried the Android version, which is very difficult to find in Android Market. It doesn't appear at all if your search for "Pinball Arcade" or even just "Pinball", but does appear if you search for "FarSight".

If you wrap your search in quotes it'll appear. But still, yeah...

Views definitely need to be tweaked. Overhead is good, but the ball gets too hard to follow with the over-reflective ball. Low and medium are fine due for visibility due to perspective, but obviously you can't get a good idea of where targets/loops are.

About the only thing I'm hopeful for (other than specific tables) is some kind of purchase transfer between devices. I'd hate to have to buy each table for each platform, given I'll probably have it for iPhone, XBLA (for score tables) and PC. Oh, and Pinball Circus. And the SuperPin tables, too.

Originally Posted by AMUSIX

Oh, and Black Hole is awesome. The underfield looks beautiful, and lights nicely when you get there.

Wait until you've seen one IRL ;)

Originally Posted by AMUSIX

Yes...that's Rudy and I hate the fucker...

I prefer the Red and Ned from Road Show. Equally creepy but far nicer in general! I'd love to see that get a port, but as it was never massive I doubt it.

Originally Posted by McBradders

I so hope they can get the Addams Family table in there. I want to do the mamoushka!

Hope so too (only played it IRL for the first time a month or so ago) but licensing will be an expensive mistress.

Originally Posted by Minsc

I think there's a decent chance (more than we ever had before!). They're trying to make this the most comprehensive pinball collection out. What was the difference between the versions again, people seem to want them to release the Gold edition. I see requests for lots of other tables that bring back good memories around the net too.

Apparently The Machine:Bride of Pinbot, Sterns Harley Davidson, and Dr. Dude have been seen in their offices, from the Facebook page:

Can practically confirm Bride of Pinbot and Harley Davidson... in the file structure of the app (jailbroken 4S, but I obviously still buy everything) there were configuration files for them :)

Originally Posted by Minsc

They really, really need to let you have an overhead view when using the plunger to launch the ball. You cannot judge depth at all in the view they give you, it's completely unrealistic that anyone would move their viewpoint there. At least for T2 style games where you just push a button to launch the ball it won't be an issue! :)

Damnit, now you have me jonesing for T2. Damn, I love that game. Another one my friend owns :D

Originally Posted by AMUSIX

You can set nudge to be shake, if that's what you're thinking. But, yeah, no slider.

I had it set to nudge, but found I was accidentally tilting all too often. Changed back to touch but I can't work out where the heatmap is for it on either landscape or portrait on the 4S.

Yeah, how do you do the nudging if it's not on shake? I didn't even see anything describing how to do it in the instructions at all. I actually find the nudging with shake to work well on Theater but if I try to nudge on Black Hole at all it goes straight to tilt. Is there no "warning" or "danger" on Black Hole or something?

I think I've noticed a lower playfield glitch a couple of times on Black Hole too...if the ball is "under" (higher on the screen due to the reverse-ness) the left flipper down there and you flip it rapidly, it seems like it'll glitch it back through the flipper and back into play. It happened really quickly for me so I'm not 100% positive about it, but I think I've done it accidentally 2-3 times.

Also, I'm bummed to say that the game got rid of my 2.1 mil score on Black Hole--it never was on the leaderboards, but it removed it even from the local initials listing. I didn't knowingly cheat to get it so I'm sad to see it go...but I'll be trying to get it back again!

Originally Posted by gururoji

Yeah, how do you do the nudging if it's not on shake?

Tap at the left/right top of the screen.

Originally Posted by Shaneus

About the only thing I'm hopeful for (other than specific tables) is some kind of purchase transfer between devices. I'd hate to have to buy each table for each platform, given I'll probably have it for iPhone, XBLA (for score tables) and PC. Oh, and Pinball Circus. And the SuperPin tables, too.

I don't understand why so many people think that cross-platform table purchases is a feasible idea. I can't think of any game that has allowed such a thing. Each platform wants a cut of the profits, and if somebody bought all the tables on the iPhone, but also played them on the 360 and PC, Microsoft and Steam would both be out the 30% cut they normally would have received.