astrochimp

Awesome!

Kedrix

For the Xbox One too as well. The $39.99 is a little off putting ($31.99 Prime is much better), but I'm interested to see it. Pinball FX has left me a little bored lately.

Spiderbite

So is this a different animal from the Pinball Arcade on the X1? I thought they already had Stern tables on that platform? Is this going to be disc based only or more along the lines of Pinball Arcade but just with Stern tables? Any repeat tables that are already on the Pinball Arcade?

I bought the first pack for the Pinball Arcade and meant to go back and buy the others but just have not been gaming much lately. They seemed to drop the number of tables down substantially with each additional pack released.

shizawn

Yeah it's a completely separate game. Here's a blurb from the cancelled kickstarter campaign for the first Stern Pinball table:

The process of digitizing pinball tables in Pinball Arcade is very complex. To summarize, we first acquire an actual physical pinball table that we have the rights to re-create digitally, we take it apart, and then recreate all of the 2D and 3D art needed for a video game version from scratch. Next, we implement the table logic, lights, DMD, and sound. We do this by emulating the ROM from the original pinball tables and combine it with our digitized art, pinball engine, and physics. Finally, we test and tune the table until it's playing just right. ROM emulation is very demanding on a devices processing power, and limits what we can do graphically. The result is a pinball game that looks good and plays very close to the real thing, but we can do even better.

The Pinball Digitization Process 2.0

We are now developing the technology to compile actual game code from Stern into our pinball engine!

For Stern's latest tables, and with our new process we can take advantage of 3D CAD files for the geometry of the playfield, ramps, bumper, toys, etc (all the way down to the screws!) as well as print-quality graphics to create the textures!

With the release of the Stern Pinball Arcade we will be implementing FarSight Pinball Physics 4.0 which will be even more realistic.

Without the overhead of ROM emulation, we can implement better lighting effects onto more devices and add more complex shaders, reflections, and shadows onto the current generation of platforms. It will be stunning!

The end result of this partnership with Stern is the ability to create beautiful exact digital recreations of the latest greatest pinball tables being made.

Decker

Also it's important to know that Data East and SEGA Pinball are part of Stern Pinball. There are some sweet licensed tables available if they don't require a Kickstarter every time.

pinata242

Jcheckel

Stern Pinball Arcade pricing seems a bit off to put it mildly.

It's free with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as expected.

$4.99 each:
Phantom of the Opera
Last Action Hero
Starship Troopers
Ripley's Believe it or Not
High Roller Casino

$9.99 each:
Star Trek Vengeance Premium
Mustang Premium "Boss"

$19.99:
AC/DC Premium

Then there are 2 bundles at $19.99 each:

Bundle Pack 1:
Ripley's Believe it or Not!
Star Trek Vengeance Premium
Starship Troopers
AC/DC Premium

Bundle Pack 2:
Harley-Davidson / Third Edition
High Roller Casino
Mustang Premium "Boss"
Last Action Hero
Phantom of the Opera

So, Bundle Pack #1 includes a table that costs as much as the bundle, and #2 includes a table they don't have available individually yet, although the store may not be done updating. Also, it doesn't appear to be possible to get the Limited Editions of Star Trek or AC/DC, but that's probably because for the time being at least they're exclusive to the disc version.

Also today, Zen is teasing Bethesda Pinball. (And I see I was beaten to it while typing this up )

flashburn

Those bundle prices are pretty nice. I don't like that they are double dipping on titles in bundles beteen games though.

Kind of disappointed they aren't also including the Pro versions of some of them, as they can play quite differently. I guess they need to save something for us to rebuy once they catch up to the current releases.

edit: Just noticed that Mustang is the only new title in Bundle 2. That's great news, because that pin SUCKS. Just skip it.

Kedrix

Heck yes! Day freaking one, especially if more than Fallout is included (Skyrim, Wolfenstein, etc).

Okay, so what's the console disc versions going to have? Surely more than the four tables on the cover, right? But it probably wouldn't be all of them. I assume there will be DLC too, but chances it would have to start with 10-15 or so tables. I just want to know what I'm putting my $32 into before a lock a preorder down.

flashburn

Well being that it's $39.99 and the two bundles = $39.98, I'm going to guess, yes it includes all of those pins.

Decker

So if you already own every Pinball Arcade table (as I do), the only table you don't already own in Bundle 2 is Mustang, which is, of course, a $10 table. At least I don't have to pay for tables I already have -- well I guess I already have Starship Troopers and Ripley's, but Star Trek and AC/DC for $20 is do-able.

Decker

Here's the Press Release :



Stern Pinball Announces Its Release of ‘The Stern Pinball Arcade’ For PS4 and Xbox One

World’s Leading Pinball Producer Brings Virtual Pinball to Xbox One and PlayStation 4

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – November 15, 2016 – Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's oldest and largest producer of arcade-quality pinball machines, proudly announced today the release of the Stern Pinball Arcade for PS4 and Xbox One. The Stern Pinball Arcade was developed in partnership with Oculus and FarSight Studios, the maker of The Pinball Arcade.

The virtual reality (VR) version of The Stern Pinball Arcade provides gamers with a unique, exciting and realistic pinball experience based on digital re-creations of the all-time greatest Stern Pinball titles. The Xbox One and PS4 releases include the limited edition virtual models of AC/DC and Star Trek, both widely popular and interactive releases.

“Stern Pinball is always searching for ways to engage pinball fans of all generations,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball. “With the additions of virtual reality pinball to more platforms we hope to bring the incredible experience of pinball to even more people.”

Oculus, a subsidiary of Facebook and one of VR’s leading companies, provides unique VR experiences through its products – Rift and the Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus.

Pricing and Availability:
Digital Version ($10.00) – available now on PS4, including Frankenstein and many more tables via DLC at later dates.

Hard Disc Version ($39.99) – will be available for both Xbox One and PS4 on November 28th on Amazon and at other major retailers. This version includes the popular tables Stern Mustang, AC/DC, Star Trek® and Frankenstein.

The Stern Pinball Arcade will also be released on more platforms this fall including; Oculus Rift, Wii-U, Steam (PC/MAC), iOS and Android.

Decker

I guess the question is : Are these versions of existing DLC tables any different than the current ones in Pinball Arcade? Because they're not showing as already owned when I know I do already own them.

Kedrix

Lawl, so it's either 10 (maybe 12 with the Limited Edition ones) or 4. If it's four, I'll wait until it's a $20 title...10-12...I'll bite at the full/prime price. I get it is licensed tables and probably a painstaking process to replicate each one...but if it is only 4 tables, they'll have a hard time finding an audience. Heck, it is still a niche title to release a physical copy for regardless.

Decker

I assume it's Bundle 1 + Bundle 2. But it would be a total hassle to pop in the disc when you wanted to play those tables. I'd rather just pay for the digital version, but I'll probably wait for a discount code or Buy $100/Get $15 back sort of promo. Don't need those tables right away.

Jcheckel

Apparently AC/DC is supposed to be $9.99

Decker

Okay, that makes more sense.

Also apparently the previously released titles transfer over from TPA to Stern. So there's no difference between buying AC/DC and Star Trek and getting the Stern Bundle #1 I suppose now.

Saw this conversation on Facebook TPA page. Don't know if it's right or not:

flashburn

Wait, if that's the case then one is indeed the Pro model. That's not a slight difference at all. It's cool if they are releasing both versions, but they need to have some sort of upgrade discount to get the other version.

Kedrix

If anybody was curious what tables Bethesda Pinball will have, confirmation was received based on the new achievements rollout: Fallout, Skyrim and Doom. I'll still get it, even though I was hoping that Wolfenstein would be there instead of Doom.

http://www.trueachievements.com/Pinb...thesda-Pinball


Edit: Also, this is coming out December 6th, so right around the corner!

Spiderbite

I am itching to buy the 2nd season of Pinball Arcade for my X1. I know they only have had one sale before (and I didn't have an X! then and missed it )

Anyone heard about any possible sales on this for Black Friday or X-mas? Did they give any notice before the last sale or did it come out of nowhere? I just hate to pull the trigger and then it goes to half price they next week.

flashburn

Do the Pinball Arcade tables not transfer over from Xbox360 to Xbox One? Sure doesn't seem like it.

Decker

No. They claim that there's a lot or resources used to upgrade to "Next Gen" tables and that's why they don't transfer tables like Zen does.

As to why the Next Gen Pinball Arcade tables don't transfer to Stern Pinball Arcade, that's anybody's guess

Hey, at least I was finally able to cash in on my Addams Family Kickstarter reward. As I already had paid for the Season 3 tables, I waited and waited. I just asked them for the Mustang Premium table for Stern Pinball and got it. Now I'll buy the Bundle #1 and I'll have at least one copy of every Far Sight table in the Next Gen platform.

flashburn

Ah damn, okay. I guess I'll probably just get the packs on Steam then, and hope they don't do a Pinball Arcade 2.0 and then they don't transfer there either... ugh.

Kedrix

A preview of the three new tables for Pinball FX2 that will debut on December 6th. I'm so there....Skyrim looks freaking awesome.

http://kotaku.com/skyrim-fallout-and...nba-1789556569

Decker

Those sound great. I loved the persistent character progression you got in Epic Quest. Sounds like it's way better in Skyrim and Fallout. I already have $10 in my PSN account earmarked for this pack next week.