Heist and Weird Al’s Hidden Secret

Knapp Arcade·article·analyzed·Mar 29, 2022

Analysis

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TL;DR

Multimorphic P3 machines spotted with camera mounts at TPF, suggesting future video-enabled online multiplayer feature.

Summary

Multimorphic's Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity had a successful public debut at Texas Pinball Festival with strong player demand and reliable performance. The author discovered evidence of a camera mount on P3 machine heads and speculates that Multimorphic is developing a camera module to enable social video interaction during online multiplayer gameplay like Cosmic Cart Racing.

Key Claims

Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity had long lines and strong player reception at Texas Pinball Festival
high confidence · Author's direct observation at TPF event
P3 machines showed good durability and reliability during constant play at TPF
high confidence · Author's direct observation at TPF event
There appears to be a camera mount visible on the top of P3 machine heads
medium confidence · Author's observation from photos taken at TPF; described as 'small circle' that could be a camera, vent, or other component
Multimorphic is developing a camera module for P3 machines to enable video interaction in online multiplayer games
low confidence · Author's speculation based on camera observation and rumor research; explicitly stated as 'speculation based upon seeing pictures' and 'sniffing around'
Camera module would allow players in online games like Cosmic Cart Racing to see and interact with each other during play
low confidence · Author's speculation about the intended purpose of the camera module

Notable Quotes

“Lines to play the game were around the proverbial block. Everyone had fun with the game and the units that the company had on the floor seemed to hold up very well to the rigors of constant play”
Author (Knapp Arcade) @ N/A — Direct observation of strong consumer reception and durability of new Weird Al machine at TPF
“To paraphrase Paul Revere 'The Cameras Are Coming! The Cameras Are Coming!'”
Author (Knapp Arcade) @ N/A — Humorous framing of the author's discovery of apparent camera mounts on P3 machines
“This adds an entirely new interactive and social aspect to P3 games that other pins won't have. Again, this is all speculation based upon seeing the pictures from the show and sniffing around a little bit.”
Author (Knapp Arcade) @ N/A — Author acknowledges speculative nature of camera module claims while emphasizing the potential competitive advantage for Multimorphic

Entities

Multimorphiccompany Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilaritygame Texas Pinball FestivaleventStern PinballcompanyGodzillagame Cosmic Cart Racinggame Knapp Arcadeorganization

Signals

?
competitive_signal: Multimorphic differentiating P3 platform through online multiplayer with social video features not available on competitor machines
medium · Author notes: 'This adds an entirely new interactive and social aspect to P3 games that other pins won't have'
?
event_signal: Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity had successful public debut at Texas Pinball Festival with high player demand and good durability
high · Author's direct observation: 'Lines to play the game were around the proverbial block' and machines 'held up very well to the rigors of constant play'
?
product_strategy: Multimorphic camera module in development phase; intended to support video interaction in online multiplayer gameplay
low · Author's speculation: 'it appears as though Multimorphic will launch a camera module for P3 machines in the future' based on visual evidence and rumor research
?
technology_signal: Multimorphic appears to be developing camera module for P3 machines to enable video-based online multiplayer interaction
medium · Author spotted apparent camera mounts on P3 machine heads at TPF and reports research suggesting planned camera module for online multiplayer games like Cosmic Cart Racing

Topics

Multimorphic P3 platform expansion and innovationprimaryWeird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity launch receptionprimaryCamera module technology for online multiplayer gamingprimaryP3 machine reliability and durabilitysecondaryTexas Pinball Festival as major industry eventsecondaryOnline multiplayer and social gaming features in pinballsecondaryCompetitive differentiation between manufacturersmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.82)— Author is enthusiastic about Multimorphic's debut and the potential camera feature innovation. Tone is celebratory toward the game's reception and speculative but optimistic about future capabilities. No criticism of Multimorphic is present; Stern reference used only as comparison point for launch challenges.

Transcript

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By all accounts, Multimorphic's public debut of its new Weird Al's Museum of Natural Hilarity debut at the recent Texas Pinball Festival was a roaring success. Lines to play the game were around the proverbial block. Everyone had fun with the game and the units that the company had on the floor seemed to hold up very well to the rigors of constant play, which isn't always the case for brand new games. Even Juggernauts like Stern pinball experienced magnets overheating in games during the initial days of the company's wildly successful Godzilla launch. With the games on the floor at TPF, I was able to look at pictures of the P3 machines from different angles than I have seen so far in the company's official photos. When examining them closely, I noticed one thing that I don't believe I have seen mentioned before. To paraphrase Paul Revere "The Cameras Are Coming! The Cameras Are Coming!" If one looks very closely at the top of the head of the P3 machines that were on the floor at TPF, there certainly appears to be a small circle where a camera can be installed in the game's head and film players. Of course, this could be nothing or a vent or something like that, but it sure looks like a spot for a camera to me. After noticing this and looking into it, it appears as though Multimorphic will launch a camera module for P3 machines in the future. Supposedly, this camera will allow people who are playing games on-line against other P3 owners, such as Cosmic Cart Racing, to see and interact with each other during play. How cool is that? This adds an entirely new interactive and social aspect to P3 games that other pins won't have. Again, this is all speculation based upon seeing the pictures from the show and sniffing around a little bit. If this is true though, it is very exciting news for already happy P3 owners and people who have ordered machines. Here's what appears to be the camera spot on a pic taken early on in the show. Later on, it almost looks like someone may have been trying to hide the camera on the new machines with a pool noodle...