146 replies to this topic

[Arcade4]

if i was donating money to a company who will profit from my money, i expect shares in the profits this game will make.

like there wasnt 10, 000 other tables much better than TZ they could have picked and cost less. if the company was good enough they would make cheap licenced tables till they could afford a big licence fee, not ask the customers to foot the bill make them money

10,000 tables better then Twilight Zone.
That might be one of the craziest statements I have ever read.
Sure they may cost less, but most people that play pinball know of twilight Zone and consider it one of the best ever.
It still amazes me that people want to run other peoples business for them so much.
Just let the guys put out the tables they want to, however they want to.
Sit back and enjoy.

Edited by Arcade4, 28 May 2012 - 08:36 PM.

[lio]

just found out about this thanks to the pinballnews newsletter... guess i need to follow up on vpf more again
looking good... 17 days to go and almost funded i hope the pc port will come along nicely - otherwise i don't have much use for it personally.

[unclewilly]

i honestly play tz every week at the pinball museum and i would have to say i personally dont really care for it. ill take a safecracker over a tz anyday, or kingpin, or a number of other tables

[vfpcoder]

I think the main thing "Farside Studios" is trying to ascertain with the Kickstarter fund is whether demand is high enough for cross-licensed tables such that people will pay a premium for them. Up to this point on the iOS platform they've been pretty much selling tables for around $2.50 (on average). Would enthusiasts be willing to pay $10 for a single movie and/or TV show themed table?

If they reach the required goal of $55,000 by June 17th, then your pledge of $10 entitles you to a “free” version of the table when it’s released. If they don’t achieve their goal, then your credit card will not be charged a penny. This seems like an incredibly sensible way to gauge both demand for the table and the $10 price point.

BTW, the $55,000 is just for the upfront licensing fees CBS is requesting to negotiate the licences required from Rod Serling’s estate (creator of the TV series) and Bernard Herrmann’s estate (the composer of the iconic “Twilight Zone” music). There will also, of course, be "per table" license fees required.

BOTTOM LINE: I think "Farside" is doing a fantastic job in an initial foray into cross-licensed tables. AFAIK, nobody else has even *tried* to do it. Not even Microsoft with their old "Pinball Arcade" package!

Edited by vfpcoder, 30 May 2012 - 10:18 PM.

[rob046]

I think the main thing "Farside Studios" is trying to ascertain with the Kickstarter fund is whether demand is high enough for cross-licensed tables such that people will pay a premium for them. Up to this point on the iOS platform they've been pretty much selling tables for around $2.50 (on average). Would enthusiasts be willing to pay $10 for a single movie and/or TV show themed table?

If they reach the required goal of $55,000 by June 17th, then your pledge of $10 entitles you to a “free” version of the table when it’s released. If they don’t achieve their goal, then your credit card will not be charged a penny. This seems like an incredibly sensible way to gauge both demand for the table and the $10 price point.

BTW, the $55,000 is just for the upfront licensing fees CBS is requesting to negotiate the licences required from Rod Serling’s estate (creator of the TV series) and Bernard Herrmann’s estate (the composer of the iconic “Twilight Zone” music). There will also, of course, be "per table" license fees required.

BOTTOM LINE: I think "Farside" is doing a fantastic job in an initial foray into cross-licensed tables. AFAIK, nobody else has even *tried* to do it. Not even Microsoft with their old "Pinball Arcade" package!

Where is this $10 table thing coming from? I was assuming it would cost the same as all other tables, hence the reason for the whole kickstarter thing. Otherwise, scrap the kickstarter & do just charge $10 per table. I kinda wish they would do that anyhow, & maybe this will after seeing how TZ does. Either way I really hope they don't do kickstarter again. If they want to become a legit company they can't keep doing that.

True, this sort of thing hasn't been done before for pinball, but it has been done (& successfully) a bunch for various video games so it really isn't that unique. I'm personally not worried too much if I see licensed tables just because there are still so many awesome original titles. & as most of us know, most of the better games in existence are original titles. In fact, historically licensed tables especially from movies are actually pretty crappy, which is good for us & good for Farsight minus the few exceptions.

I haven't donated for TZ & people want to make me feel bad about it. However, I've actually given more money to Farsight than most as I bought the game & all the tables for android, 360, PS3, & soon PC (I hope). I even bought the Amazon version even though I don't have a use for it, just thought I'd toss another buck their way. So people who have donated $10 or $20 to FS but only bought TPA for one device can STFU as I've given more $$ than they have. I'm not rich & I'm already putting too much of my extra cash toward pinball (which isn't much to begin with). So the hobby in general is getting plenty of my money. Farsight should be more than happy with ppl supporting them by buying their products even more so than donating to kickstarter.

[vfpcoder]

[/quote]

True, this sort of thing hasn't been done before for pinball, but it has been done (& successfully) a bunch for various video games so it really isn't that unique. I'm personally not worried too much if I see licensed tables just because there are still so many awesome original titles. & as most of us know, most of the better games in existence are original titles. In fact, historically licensed tables especially from movies are actually pretty crappy, which is good for us & good for Farsight minus the few exceptions.

Actually, just off the top of my head, I can think of the following cross-licensed tables I would *love* to be able to purchase for both iOS; and, even, on the PC platform which they've stated will have cabinet support:

Star Trek -- The Next Generation
Addams Family
The Simpsons ... and The Simpson's Pinball Party
Back to the Future
Star Wars Trilogy
Lord of the Rings

But I do agree that there are still *plenty* of table "originals" available for them to virtualize.

[rob046]

I think 4 of those 6 can be universally agreed on (for the most part), but the list quickly starts to decline after the top dozen or so licensed pins. BTTF is OK, but not even the top 3 of all DE pins, so I doubt we'd ever see it. SWT... I'd say Data East Star Wars is far better, which reminds me that is a good one to put on the list of successful movie based pins. But I'm not getting my hopes up for some of these licenses that might be crazy expensive to where it just isn't worth it.

[jrolson]

The Xbox 360 version of the Twilight Zone is now included as a reward!

http://www.kickstart...ne/posts/237312

[rob046]

I thought it already was since that would be a no-brainer. So that really isn't game changing news, sounds like there was just an issue holding this back that they had to clear up with MS. Would of been nice to hit the goal without that reward, they could end up losing more money than they would have now that all these extra ppl are gonna get TZ without paying extra for it, whereas before they would of gladly paid. Cuz trust me anybody even remotely interested in TZ will shell out the $3 no problem.

Hmm. Did everybody but me notice that there is actually a release date for TZ??? Nov 2012 estimate. That isn't too far off. Though with the approval process that could mean Feb 2014.

[The Loafer]

just found out about this thanks to the pinballnews newsletter... guess i need to follow up on vpf more again
looking good... 17 days to go and almost funded i hope the pc port will come along nicely - otherwise i don't have much use for it personally.

LIO!!!!! Sorry, could not resist!

[panootz]

I just pledged 25.00 right know, i would love to make it 100.00 but don't have it at the moment but i still have time to donate so i might donate more, i really want this game on my Playstation Vita Badly along with The Addams Family, Family Guy, and Spiderman then i would be very happy.

[Nate D]

They now have $8,200 to go before the project is fully funded!

[s1500]

Where is this $10 table thing coming from? I was assuming it would cost the same as all other tables, hence the reason for the whole kickstarter thing. Otherwise, scrap the kickstarter & do just charge $10 per table. I kinda wish they would do that anyhow, & maybe this will after seeing how TZ does. Either way I really hope they don't do kickstarter again. If they want to become a legit company they can't keep doing that.

Look at it this way. If they did a kickstarter for TZ and made zero dollars, they would know the public doesn't want it and will make a different table. No loss there.

If there was no kickstarter in that case, they would have to invest in their own $, and if that bombed, that's a big loss for them. That might discourage or prevent the making of future tables.

We didn't have Kickstarter before. Numerous companies took a risk on a product that bombed for whatever reason and are out of business. Kickstarter's a buffer zone that can prevent that.

[CaptainNeo]

i honestly play tz every week at the pinball museum and i would have to say i personally dont really care for it. ill take a safecracker over a tz anyday, or kingpin, or a number of other tables

SC better than TZ? Don't know about that one. SC is wayyy to easy. It's probably the only machine I can play, and get to the ending every single time I play it, no matter who's machine or where it's at. Even in tournament, we ended up playing for what seemed like 30 min or more. You can rape it fairly easy with the left lane spinner to crank up your time. Shoots it up to the lanes, which goes into the center about 82% of the time, so you keep the opening always in the center. Pops will usually kick it back in there about 12 more times, adding 5 min to your playtime every time. SC is great for a novelty game, but way to easy. TZ is probably one of the harder games out there. No mercy on that game. Almost every shot is designed to screw you over. Big time ball buster and frustrating as hell on location. It's made to eat money. But a whole lot of fun.

[whsemngr]

Certainly won't be coming from here. We needed months to get the cash together for the Unity license and that was only 1,5K. A month is just WAY too little time for a fanbase this niche. I'd have estimated about six months time would be enough, just to get the word out to enough people and manage to drum up enough of an interest for the cash to come together. Instead, it'll fall flat with more than 20K still to go and nothing will happen. Such is the way of Kickstarter.

Good call...The Twilight Zone Kickstarter Project is now fully funded and in just 15 short days.

[lettuce]

Star Trek:TNG will also be made if they hit 110K!!!.....

http://www.kickstart...ight-zone/posts

[TheMcD]

Certainly won't be coming from here. We needed months to get the cash together for the Unity license and that was only 1,5K. A month is just WAY too little time for a fanbase this niche. I'd have estimated about six months time would be enough, just to get the word out to enough people and manage to drum up enough of an interest for the cash to come together. Instead, it'll fall flat with more than 20K still to go and nothing will happen. Such is the way of Kickstarter.

Good call...The Twilight Zone Kickstarter Project is now fully funded and in just 15 short days.

Bah. That just really kind of annoys me. A project with the potential to become a huge gamechanger in the world of pinball recreations struggles to collect 1.5K in months, and a single recreation gets 55K in 15 days. And of course, they're going to go for a double. Makes me wonder what would happen if they fall short of the double - they're still getting all the money, after all.

[whsemngr]

Certainly won't be coming from here. We needed months to get the cash together for the Unity license and that was only 1,5K. A month is just WAY too little time for a fanbase this niche. I'd have estimated about six months time would be enough, just to get the word out to enough people and manage to drum up enough of an interest for the cash to come together. Instead, it'll fall flat with more than 20K still to go and nothing will happen. Such is the way of Kickstarter.

Good call...The Twilight Zone Kickstarter Project is now fully funded and in just 15 short days.

Bah. That just really kind of annoys me. A project with the potential to become a huge gamechanger in the world of pinball recreations struggles to collect 1.5K in months, and a single recreation gets 55K in 15 days. And of course, they're going to go for a double. Makes me wonder what would happen if they fall short of the double - they're still getting all the money, after all.

I was just teasing a little, but if they fail to reach the stretch goal, the excess money will be rolled over to getting ST:TNG licensed and FarSight would then start a Kickstarter specifically for ST:TNG (if needed) for the remaining funds needed.

[rooter]

A project with the potential to become a huge gamechanger in the world of pinball recreations struggles to collect 1.5K in months, and a single recreation gets 55K in 15 days.

What project are you talking about?

[whsemngr]

Certainly won't be coming from here. We needed months to get the cash together for the Unity license and that was only 1,5K. A month is just WAY too little time for a fanbase this niche. I'd have estimated about six months time would be enough, just to get the word out to enough people and manage to drum up enough of an interest for the cash to come together. Instead, it'll fall flat with more than 20K still to go and nothing will happen. Such is the way of Kickstarter.

Good call...The Twilight Zone Kickstarter Project is now fully funded and in just 15 short days.

Bah. That just really kind of annoys me. A project with the potential to become a huge gamechanger in the world of pinball recreations struggles to collect 1.5K in months, and a single recreation gets 55K in 15 days. And of course, they're going to go for a double. Makes me wonder what would happen if they fall short of the double - they're still getting all the money, after all.

Also, this Kickstarter isn't just about one table, but also to prove to FarSight that there is a market for big licensed (and popular) tables. My guess is that after the completion of this Kickstarter, FarSight will have a better idea of what tables and licenses they should or shouldn't take a chance on by investing in the licensing themselves.