# AFMR play tests. **Source:** Neil McRae / Great British Pinball Podcast **Type:** video **Published:** 2025-12-19 **Duration:** 27m 29s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv-v4rvxjgc --- ## Analysis Neil McRae provides gameplay commentary and observations during a playtest session of AFM (Medieval Madness remake or similar classic pinball machine). He discusses specific playfield issues including popper accuracy problems, flipper strength concerns, and lock shot mechanics, while noting the game remains enjoyable despite room for mechanical refinement. The session includes gameplay footage review and statistics about the machine's performance in his home setup. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The popper is sending the ball straight down the middle occasionally, with approximately two instances observed in the session — _Neil McRae discussing observed popper behavior during playtest_ - [MEDIUM] The lock shot flipper is described as 'probably a touch too powerful' but the remake version has a newer power system that functions better — _Neil McRae comparing original machine to remake version_ - [HIGH] The game has only been played approximately 47-100 times total since acquisition (before Christmas the previous year) — _Neil McRae citing game statistics: 47 total plays, chip upgrade performed weeks after acquisition, machine was unused for two months during shed construction_ - [HIGH] Extra balls have been turned off in the machine settings for approximately since June (at least 6+ months) — _Neil McRae referencing game settings and timeline_ - [MEDIUM] The game is described as 'hard' and 'set up to be hard' with difficulty in catching the ball cleanly — _Neil McRae's gameplay commentary and self-assessment_ ### Notable Quotes > "I've played lots of AFMs. And I've, you know, all of them I've always had. If the game's been used a lot, the coil's a bit weak. You know, I don't think they're all perfect, but room for improvement for sure." > — **Neil McRae**, ~00:30 > _Demonstrates knowledge of AFM machines and establishes baseline expectations for machine condition; suggests wear is common in heavily-used machines_ > "If anything, it's probably a touch too powerful, which is one of the upsides of the remake, at least I believe it is, of the power system. Not because it's any different theoretically wise, but just because it's newer." > — **Neil McRae**, ~01:15 > _Indicates preference for newer flipper systems; suggests mechanical wear and aging affects performance of classic machines_ > "I haven't made any money! Average ball time 48 seconds, time for credit 3 minutes. Total plays, earning 47." > — **Neil McRae**, ~08:00 > _Provides specific gameplay statistics and suggests the machine's earning potential is minimal in home setting_ > "72 free games! 52 extra balls! I mean this game's had extra balls turned off for almost a year." > — **Neil McRae**, ~08:30 > _Shows the impact of extra ball settings on game statistics; demonstrates deliberate tuning decisions_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Neil McRae | person | Host/player providing gameplay commentary and machine observations; appears to be experienced player with home pinball collection | | Great British Pinball Podcast | organization | Podcast source where this content was published | | AFM | game | Pinball machine being playtested and discussed; referred to as having both original and 'remake' versions with different power systems | ### Topics - **Primary:** Playfield mechanics and tuning, Flipper power and responsiveness, Popper accuracy and ball direction - **Secondary:** Machine maintenance and wear, Game difficulty balance, Home pinball collection management ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) ### Signals - **[product_concern]** Popper mechanism sending ball straight down the middle occasionally rather than distributing to ramps/targets as intended (confidence: high) — Neil McRae: 'that popper sending straight down the middle... I think two went, one went straight down the middle admittedly. Two I think, two were close. So I'll try and tighten that up' - **[product_concern]** Lock shot flipper power characteristics requiring tuning; described as 'probably a touch too powerful' in newer versions (confidence: medium) — Neil McRae: 'If anything, it's probably a touch too powerful, Which is one of the upsides of the remake, at least I believe it is, of the power system' - **[gameplay_signal]** Game is deliberately set up to be difficult; player notes challenges with ball control and catching mechanics (confidence: medium) — Neil McRae: 'I mean, it's a hard game... I set up to be hard' and 'That wasn't perfect was it? Definitely room for improvement' - **[restoration_signal]** Observation that heavily-used AFM machines commonly experience weak coils; newer machines/remakes have improved power systems (confidence: medium) — Neil McRae: 'I've played lots of AFMs... if the game's been used a lot, the coil's a bit weak... I don't think they're all perfect, but room for improvement for sure' - **[product_concern]** Variability in mechanical consistency mentioned regarding a specific playfield element (possibly lock shot or popper behavior) (confidence: low) — Neil McRae: 'I tend to agree it's cute. And it is a bit variable.' --- ## Transcript Subtitles by the Amara.org community www.subsedit.com you Kid mentioned that top three pinball is of Hot Eu Polls, 10,000여 and 10 million Korean won They are all top three pinball. The team at Hot Eu Polls ranked top 16. There is hard to say who is winning. It's 2013 for CHIPS that time for them. 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Question AFMR. A couple of issues and valid questions. Questions that I would ask if it happened to me, which is, oh, that popper sending straight down the middle. In the while you just saw about a hundred, was it a hundred or no? It felt like a hundred. I think two went, one went straight down the middle admittedly. Two I think, two were close. So I'll try and tighten that up but not, but I think I've seen, I've played lots of AFMs And I've, you know, all of them I've always had. If the game's been used a lot, the call's a bit weak. You know, I don't think they're all perfect, but room for improvement for sure. The other comment I got was the lock shot. You just saw I've hit it from the right and left foot, unfortunately I don't have the best pinball skills To edit from this one, the flipper's weak. If anything, it's probably a touch too powerful, Which is one of the upsides of the remake, at least I believe it is, of the power system. Not because it's any different theoretical wise, but just because it's newer. I can't remember if the person mentioned it was from the left flipper or the right flipper. I never ever went for the lock shot. I mean if you've got the ball like that, you can go post pass and go from the... ...to the... ...to the... If it is possible, then you get that bit of a nudge and you'll save it. Not a great nudge for me, but I did it. I'll just nick the balls out of her. Deadpool would make it a bit easier. I can hit that pretty... I don't know if there's a pinball player involved, but I can hit that pretty regularly I would say. And then let just Let a repeat Let take it back in there Two early. A couple of folks are changing the stoles, come to the middle of the clipper. I will check that out. I tend to agree it's cute. And it is a bit variable. Love to play Minecraft videos! mans Jackie That was kind of a big picture really. I'm playing on the screen with these deep whistlers. I kind of wish I was playing the game because I've got an immense high score. I am going to check what the game's levels are. I mean, it's a hard game. People have got too brilliant on it. I set up to be hard. I'm going to be whack so the playfields are pretty pretty. I've got cheeks. I'm going to be the first one. I'm going to be cold stop on the playfields a bit if any of you. I'm going to be a bit weak though. Here we go. That was my rubbish catch. I'm losing a great set of ballers as well, but not a great catch. Probably shouldn't have caught it. I'm trying to find the point where I should be able to catch it. So I'll definitely have a look at it. So I'll definitely have a look at improving that. Compare the production of the pick bat with That wasn't perfect was it? Definitely room for improvement but we will improve. Thanks for that. Yeah, we'll look at more of that and try and sort it out. Cheers. I haven't made any money! Average ball time 48 seconds, time for credit 3 minutes. Total plays, earning 47. I haven't reset that since I got the game, so it's not like it's been hammered. It's only me here at home that plays it in an occasional tournament. I'm pretty sure that didn't reset when we did the chip upgrade either. But it might have done, but that was a few weeks after I got the game, so at most 100 games. Still far from used. 72 free games! 52 extra balls! I mean this game's had extra balls turned off for almost a year. Not quite because I've only had it a year, but at least since June. I'm pretty sure it's in June. And the game was folded up for at least... This came a year old or two years old? I can't remember if it was a year old or two years old. No, it must be a year old. Yeah, I got it before Christmas this time last year. The game was folded up for two months while I got my pin shed built. Percentage of balls, 6, free play percentage. Game started on 38, total plays 847, total free plays 130. That's a bit weird. 56 of the Match Awards, 2 credits from high scores, extra balls 52, yeah I hope you do have it. Anyway, thank you, bye bye. www.subsedit.com _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v4)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 329009e1-7e9e-4db4-a52d-efa552da8e3f*