Are monthly tables permanently unlocked?

[Michael]

I'm brand new to this series, and I'm extremely impressed. I do plan on dropping some cash down on a pack if they go on sale for the holidays.

Anywho, as the title implies, I was wondering about these "free" monthly tables. It's really awesome that we get to play a new one each month, but do we get to actually keep them? Or are they replaced each month, and just used as bait to try to get you to buy them?

[Zombie Tsunami]

Replaced each month you don't get to keep them.

Sales - Season and 1 & 2 provide big bang for your Mooola.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI1w3cwcUPY

[Michael]

Originally posted by Laugh Track:

Replaced each month you don't get to keep them.

Sales - Season and 1 & 2 provide big bang for your Mooola.

That's a damn shame. Thanks for such a quick answer though.

Season 1 is exactly what I'm looking at, actually. Some of those bring back some really great memories - the Star Trek one in particular. Played the heck out of that in bowling alleys. :D

[MuddyWolf]

If you’re new to the game, you might also want to check out this table ratings list:
http://smbhax.com/tpatr/?c=results

The votes come from members of Farsight’s official forum.
Personally I think it’s a pretty solid list.

If you want to know which tables are in which packs, when they were originally released, etc. The game’s Wiki might come in handy too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pinball_Arcade

Have fun!

[Michael]

Thanks for the info!

Do these packs ever go on sale? I was going to hold off to see if anything happened for Christmas.

[MuddyWolf]

I've never seen them on sale even once, except during holiday sales.

Don't expect all seasons to go on sale btw.
It's usually only the first 3 seasons, maybe 4 this year (age).

The newer packs/seasons probably won't be discounted at all.
On the whole, Farsight isn't too big on sales.

[Michael]

That would work out perfectly for me if it does. It's mainly the first season I'm looking at. Possibly the second as well, but it's hard to justify the cost for all of these. I'm usually pretty anti-DLC, and these all add up to a few hundred bucks.

[MuddyWolf]

If I were new to the game I would also be looking at seasons 1 & 2.
They are the best overall packs imo and they also contain more tables than later seasons.

Seasons 1 & 2 = 40 tables
Seasons 3 & 4 = 20 tables

[Michael]

That was my reasoning as well. It's a shame Adams Family is in a much smaller pack.

I toyed with the idea of getting a couple of individual tables, but I only saw the option for it in-game and not through Steam. I'm very leery about making purchases that require yet another account - both for security reasons, and for the simple fact that I don't want to have to be connected to the internet just to use my products once I have them installed. (I'm assuming it requires an internet connection to check which tables you bought seperately.)

[MuddyWolf]

It’s hard to file the tables under DLC because The Pinball Arcade is basically just a framework. The tables are the game. But you’re definitely right when it comes to in-game purchases. I strongly recommend against them. Farsight’s customer service leaves a lot to be desired to put it mildly. If you want a refund, if you have a problem or a game breaking bug, good luck with getting any useful help.

Just stick to Steam...

Btw
You can play the game offline.

[Michael]

Originally posted by MuddyWolf:

Btw
You can play the game offline.

lol At least that's something. Thanks again for all the helpful info!

[Sudden]

There was a time when one months tournament tables never locked back (you didn't need to own them for one of them). That was awesome.

But then stuff happened with my pc, drive wipe and they re-locked >___>

As for

"I'm very leery about making purchases that require yet another account - both for security reasons, and for the simple fact that I don't want to have to be connected to the internet just to use my products once I have them installed."

You still buy them with your Steam Wallet and when you buy the single table In-game it opens up a Steam window to pay with Funds in your Steam Wallet. So it's still all threw Steam, just add the funds 1st.

[Michael]

Originally posted by Sudden:

You still buy them with your Steam Wallet and when you buy the single table In-game it opens up a Steam window to pay with Funds in your Steam Wallet. So it's still all threw Steam, just add the funds 1st.

Paying with your Steam wallet is not the same as buying something from Steam. Any games or DLC that I buy directly from Steam - provided it's not an online-only product - I get to keep forever, no matter what happens to the game's publisher. Even if it's pulled from the store, it remains in my library.

Conversely, in-game purchases are done through their own private database, and are not recorded in Steam - basically leaving you without any sort of backup available should the company, product, or content ever vanish. Additionally, they still require a separate login for these purchases.

Originally posted by Sudden:

But then stuff happened with my pc, drive wipe and they re-locked >___>

Case in point.

[32x32 Riker jpeg]

Originally posted by Michael:

Originally posted by Sudden:

You still buy them with your Steam Wallet and when you buy the single table In-game it opens up a Steam window to pay with Funds in your Steam Wallet. So it's still all threw Steam, just add the funds 1st.

Paying with your Steam wallet is not the same as buying something from Steam. Any games or DLC that I buy directly from Steam - provided it's not an online-only product - I get to keep forever, no matter what happens to the game's publisher. Even if it's pulled from the store, it remains in my library.

Conversely, in-game purchases are done through their own private database, and are not recorded in Steam - basically leaving you without any sort of backup available should the company, product, or content ever vanish. Additionally, they still require a separate login for these purchases.

Originally posted by Sudden:

But then stuff happened with my pc, drive wipe and they re-locked >___>

Case in point.

He means you buy individual tables through the microtransaction menu, like buying keys in Valve games.

[Michael]

Originally posted by Santa Paws:

He means you buy individual tables through the microtransaction menu, like buying keys in Valve games.

Yes, I know. And none of those microtransactions are recorded by your Steam account, because it's through the publisher.

[Sudden]

That was not for paid tables, those where the free to play tables. The tables I paid for didn't go away, those are saved to my account. Just trying to help.