# Alien Pinball Looks...Iffy. **Source:** Cary Hardy **Type:** video **Published:** 2021-03-14 **Duration:** 4m 36s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N7dFD8HjiY --- ## Analysis Carrie Hardy provides initial impressions of the Alien pinball prototype cabinet revealed by The Super Awesome Pinball Show. She criticizes the artwork and expresses skepticism about the game's theme execution, while noting significant playfield dimpling and praising the polished ramps. Hardy plans a future unboxing and full review. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The Alien prototype playfield shows extensive dimpling that may be concerning to some players — _Hardy observed dimpling on the prototype displayed at Coin Taker and explicitly warned viewers about it_ - [HIGH] The original Alien game at Texas Pinball Festival had significant mechanical issues requiring glass removal for playability — _Hardy directly played the original at TPF and reported ball-sticking problems in certain playfield areas_ - [HIGH] Hardy does not believe the new Alien game does the theme justice — _Direct statement: 'Do I believe it does the theme justice? No.'_ - [HIGH] The ramps on the Alien prototype feature clean, polished stainless steel construction — _Hardy praised the left-side ramps as 'nice clean polished' and 'beautiful'_ ### Notable Quotes > "I don't like it." > — **Carrie Hardy**, early in video > _Direct critique of Alien's artwork/aesthetics, sets critical tone for review_ > "This play field is going to have dimpling so... be aware" > — **Carrie Hardy**, mid-video > _Specific warning about a potential playfield quality issue for buyers_ > "Am I excited about this title? No. Do I believe it does the theme justice? No." > — **Carrie Hardy**, late-video > _Clear statement of Hardy's skepticism about the game's execution and theme alignment_ > "I mean, I have played the first aliens when it was at Texas pinball festival, but it had a lot of issues" > — **Carrie Hardy**, late-video > _Context for Hardy's existing skepticism based on prototype quality issues_ > "But maybe it'll be fun to shoot." > — **Carrie Hardy**, mid-video > _Hedged, tentative positive note about potential gameplay experience_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Carrie Hardy | person | Pinball content creator providing critical gameplay and design analysis of Alien prototype | | Alien | game | New pinball machine prototype being reviewed; previously had quality/reliability issues at Texas Pinball Festival | | The Super Awesome Pinball Show | media | Pinball podcast that released exclusive video footage of Alien prototype cabinet at Coin Taker | | Coin Taker | organization | Location where Alien prototype cabinet was displayed and shown by The Super Awesome Pinball Show | | Christian Lyon | person | Host of The Super Awesome Pinball Show who narrated the Alien prototype video walkthrough | | Texas Pinball Festival | event | Event where Hardy previously played original Alien prototype and experienced mechanical issues | ### Topics - **Primary:** Alien pinball game prototype quality and design, Artwork and theme execution criticism, Playfield condition and dimpling concerns - **Secondary:** Hardware quality (ramps, stainless steel components), Pinball content creation and game reviews, Reliability issues from prototype testing ### Sentiment **Negative** (-0.65) — Hardy expresses clear skepticism and dissatisfaction with artwork and theme execution, though she tempers criticism with acknowledgment that the game may be enjoyable to play and commits to a fair future review. Criticism is directed at design choices rather than personal attack. ### Signals - **[design_philosophy]** Carrie Hardy explicitly states the Alien artwork does not appeal to her and does not effectively execute the alien/xenomorph theme aesthetic (confidence: high) — Direct quotes: 'I don't like it' and 'Do I believe it does the theme justice? No.' - **[event_signal]** The Super Awesome Pinball Show released exclusive prototype footage at Coin Taker location, generating early community reaction and content creator analysis (confidence: high) — Hardy references the exclusive video release and uses footage as basis for her critique - **[product_strategy]** Alien prototype features improved ramp construction with polished stainless steel components, addressing potential durability compared to earlier versions (confidence: medium) — Hardy praised 'nice clean polished' stainless steel ramps as a positive technical feature - **[product_concern]** Alien prototype exhibits significant playfield dimpling that may indicate durability or manufacturing quality issues; original prototype at Texas Pinball Festival had ball-sticking and playfield routing problems requiring glass removal (confidence: high) — Hardy directly observed extensive dimpling on display prototype and reported firsthand experience with mechanical failures on original TPF unit --- ## Transcript what's up guys welcome back to my channel where I talk and do everything pinball so if that sounds interesting to you then hit the subscribe button down below so the super awesome pinball show released an exclusive video showing off the first prototype cabinet at coin taker showing off alien to all of us and I just wanted to give because it's a real quick only like six minute video and and I just wanted to give you my quick initial thoughts and I don't want to go into too much detail on how I feel about the game because honestly guys things are in the works already and I should be able to do an unboxing video and thoroughly go through the ins and outs of this game in the future. So let's talk about the art. I don't like it. This looks let me watch the video some more on this and I going to put some of the footage in and out in this video just to show you guys what in this video It available on the Super Awesome Pinball Show Facebook page But it Christian Lyon going over the cabinet starting out just showing you what the art looks like and the screen that on the backbox and the screen that's been removed on the play field. And for those of you out there that do not like dimpling, that it is a big turn off to you, be aware that as of right now, I see a lot of dimpling on this play field. I don't know how many times it's been played at coin taker But all I can tell you is just from what I see that it does have a lot of dimpling if that doesn't bother you Then don't worry about it. But i'm just letting you know that this play field is going to be dimpling so Going on. I'm going to scroll through a little faster here and then we get to the ramps the ramps on the left side I first of all If I could get all of my ramps that have the stainless steel ramps to look like this nice clean polished right here, that would be great. These ramps look beautiful when it comes to just how clean and polished they look That is great So I give them props to that That looks good I mean for as much as we got in this video there honestly very little here to chew on It just kind of gives you an idea of what the game plays and sounds like which is all it really needs to be We don't need it to be an in-depth, deep dive on this. We're going to get that in the future. But as of right now, like I said, I do have plans, and hopefully those plans still go good when it comes to doing an unboxing and going full-fledgedly through this entire game, giving you guys the best view for what this game has in store. Am I excited about this title? No. Do I believe it does the theme justice? No. But maybe it'll be fun to shoot. I mean, I'm not getting too aggressive when it comes to harping on it. I'm looking forward to playing it. I mean, I have played the first aliens when it was at Texas pinball festival, but it had a lot of issues and so many issues in fact, that they had to take the glass off and let people play it without the glass on because the ball was getting stuck in certain areas and other, other issues that they were having with it. And um I remember my experience playing the original being you know okay Nothing really to write home about or nothing to really be like oh man i really need to get this game so like i said that probably why i guess i'm not feeling excited about this but uh we'll see how that goes later in the future whenever i get hands on with it i'm not sure what exactly that will be but uh i will let you know so that's it for you guys that want to see this video in its entirety for yourself i will put a link in the description down below. So what are your thoughts on this alien's pinball machine? Good? Bad? Ugly? What? Let me know in the comments down below. Give me that thumbs up and if you haven't already hit the subscribe button that way you can be notified of whenever I upload something for your viewing pleasure. So until next time guys, peace out. Outro Music _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 360607a1-7ded-4d84-bed9-6fdcbc963317*