Jack*Bot playfield compared to Pin*Bot

[dave]

It seems (from looking at videos; will try playing in a few hours when it's released) like the physical, ball-interacting layout of Jack*Bot is identical to that of Pin*Bot. Am I missing something? Clearly, the rules are different and there are some differences in how the playfield is decorated with lights.

I suppose a new rule set on a good table layout is worth having. Would be nice if they've tweaked that left outlane so it isn't quite so easy to lose the ball there.

(Edit: I noticed in the instructions, they say the layouts are identical.)

[PaCMaN 凸(¬‿¬)凸]

Bride of Pinbot is by far the best of the three. One of my favorite tables.

[I'm Ant]

It's not Farsight's fault but Jackbot to me looks like a Gotileb version of Pinbot. It's still a good edition to the collection though. it will prob grow on me.

[Pinballwiz45b]

Originally posted by LMA:

It's not Farsight's fault but Jackbot to me looks like a Gotileb version of Pinbot. It's still a good edition to the collection though. it will prob grow on me.

Jack*Bot is amazing. There are many parts of that game you won't even know about. Good luck on Mega Visor.

[MWink64]

While the physical layout is almost identical, they are tuned quite differently in TPA. The TPA versions of Pin*Bot and Jack*Bot feel quite different once you play them a bit. I've noticed a few significant differences after just a few games of Jack*Bot. The Skill shot is noticeably harder to hit (though still not especially difficult). The left ramp feels steeper. Most noticeably, the kickout from the left saucer seems to be well randomized. It also has a tendency to try and throw the ball SDTM. Luckily, a slap-save can often prevent this.

At least give Jack*Bot a try. It's definitely my favorite table so far this season.

[Relaxation]

hmmmm... this is totally balanced[a.pomf.se]. I'd like to start every game just like that.

[fafaflunkie]

Jack*Bot and Pin*Bot are virtually identical in playfield layout. Complete with their virtual magnets attracting the ball(s) to the outlanes %[ I couldn't get one good game going on Jackbot (best score so far 3.6B--lousy for this game.) All due to the ball(s) heading straight for the outlane at a speed far too fast to nudge your way out of it.

[Pragmatic Tornado]

I'm not convinced. Seems like a waste to release two tables with an identical layout, but at least the Pinbot trilogy is complete now.

[Common Sense]

I dunno, it plays very fast and fun for the most part, definitely got the just one more game factor.

Soundtrack is a nice take on the heavy elevator music that keeps the seniors excited in the casino and offers a one of a kind contrast with the scifi voice calls and pneumatic/robot sound effects.

Scoring is pants though and i'm center draining more then anything ellse, cus we're not bothering with rubber bounce much as is tradition.

Don't mind the outlanes showing no mercy as that's being true to life considering they look like they're medium open, as for other looks why put black rubbers on the flippers when all the art around them including the translite suggests they should be red and yes i do know that black is how they rolled off the assembly line it just doesn't look right to me at all :P

All in all, pretty good stuff.

[dave]

Originally posted by MWink64:

...Most noticeably, the kickout from the left saucer seems to be well randomized. It also has a tendency to try and throw the ball SDTM. ...

I think I have noticed more variation from the left kickout, too, and also several saves from the center pin which I scarcely ever noticed in Pin*Bot.

It took me at least half a dozen games to get all the "Skilled" goals which was a nice amount of challenge compared to some that were way too easy, but overall I've barely broken a billion points. It looks like many of the Wizard goals will take some time. Maybe after the semester/quarter ends I can do some grinding on it. It is fun, though.

From the videos, I was a little concerned that it seemed like it would be too heavy on the DMD/video modes, but they don't really distract as much as, say, Black Rose, and are well tied in to previous play on the table itself. Actually, I don't think I've seen one yet that did more than ask you to choose double-or-nothing; I guess they aren't really video modes after all.