I'm learning. That's why I wanted That's okay. 148. All right. All right. All right. Here we are. Now we've gotten a chance Here we are. Now we've gotten a chance to play some Pokemon pinball. We're going to go through some of our thoughts with that. Yeah. Yeah. So, Ed, what was your first impression? So, Ed, what was your first impression? Well, wow. Um, I was really really Well, wow. Um, I was really really afraid that this game is going to be way too easy and thus not fun. [laughter] Um, because at the point where we're at Um, because at the point where we're at in our pinball career, so to speak, um, we're a little more advanced players, that sort of thing. I didn't realize how much of a wave of nostalgia really kind of washed over me when I played this game because I haven't watched Pokemon in so long. That being said, with that being all established, um I felt the shots were very um intuitive and and satisfying. I felt the modes uh at so far at this point feel complete. And finally, um the main features of the games um I would say overall with the Pro [music] and the Premium, there's a lot to offer the players regardless. Um, and we'll talk a bit more about what's in the pro and what's in the premium. But I [music] think with what the the But I [music] think with what the the game has to offer, I'm feeling happy so far and I definitely want to play it more [music] and more. Uh, my first impressions. So, so my Uh, my first impressions. So, so my first impressions when I came into this is you there was that leaked photo that we saw the shots and that didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I'm like, "Oh man, this it looks a lot like, you know, other games that we've seen and stuff like that." Um, the bad photo in that that screenshot didn't really actually do the game justice. It looks a lot better in person as far as the quality of the art. You know, I don't know whether that was a prototype or not. It looks a whole lot better. And as Ed [music] said that shots on this game are really intuitive. I think a novice player is going to be able to step up to this game and and hit shots and feel some feel pretty satisfied with doing stuff. The shots layout is very very intuitive. it. You're going to be able to hit stuff after you develop a game with a little bit of muscle memory. So, I think I think a novice player is going to really enjoy this. The the multiball that you can get, which hitting the bash toy in the middle, what's the name of that character? Um, Meowith. Um, Meowith. Meowith. Yeah. Meowith. Yeah. Uh, that one is an easy to hit shot. So, Uh, that one is an easy to hit shot. So, you can get an average player will be able to get a multiball going really good and play with this. Now, that being said, I'm actually interested in the mechanics of the game where capture a Pokemon, evolve it, bat, and battle with battle with them. So, I think it's going to lend itself to a lot of things. Um, you know, first impression is a tournament player might go, "Oh, that's going to be an easy game." But I think this one's going to be differentiated by the code. Yeah, exactly. Um, it also something Yeah, exactly. Um, it also something else that I realized too was I think the big thing about the bachelor that worried me the most is is it kind of a brainless sort of thing that you kind of go into this habit with junkyard cuz with junkyard, you know, obviously there was some limitations back then. You're just more or less just batting it up there with no no nothing really there. Yeah. The junkyard ball is in the way a Yeah. The junkyard ball is in the way a lot of times when you're trying to because it's just swinging around doing stuff. But then as you're starting to hit all those targets that are around the Meowith balloon, you're you're realizing, oh, this does this and I can do that and now this starts this mode and so on. Yeah. Yeah. And I I think that the bat Yeah. Yeah. And I I think that the bat bash toy was actually very purposely used. It was actually, you know, cuz it came down when it needed to bash it and it moved out of the way when you didn't want it. So given that it's interactive with the game made it a more engaging mech because made it a more engaging mech because it's not there when you it doesn't need to be there. Yeah. So, that was kind of my worry is Yeah. So, that was kind of my worry is that there was just going to be this bash toy that's just always in the way of doing stuff. Yeah. I mean, and if also the other Yeah. I mean, and if also the other thing I had in mind, too, is that let's say you're not hitting those shots on [music] the ramps or you're just jumping into the game for the first time, you don't know really what you're doing, it's a good bet that you're going to at least [music] do something and be able to do something just by shooting the middle and sort of bashing that thing um to oblivion if you need to and still have a good time with it. Um so, that's important. Um so, that's important. Yeah. going on that same thing. I I Yeah. going on that same thing. I I definitely think it's going to be a very uh engaging game, especially if you're poke Pokemon Pokemon fan. Yeah, Ed was into Pokemon in his younger years. I was never into that. So, I'm [music] not that familiar with the lore of Pokemon, but I know a lot of people who played but I know a lot of people who played Pokémon Go and play other games, so I've like gleaned a bit of what the universe is about. And I think it's going to make for a great in deep pinball game. You know, they said they had what 151 Pokemon or something. Well, well, the [music] first generation Well, well, the [music] first generation had 150 and then Stern had revealed that there's a bit more Pokemon that will be in this game as well. Um, the number that was tossed out that we saw on the machine was 181, but who knows what else they're going to be. Yeah, they said there's more to come. Yeah, they said there's more to come. So, so you're going to be able to collect a lot more. Now, that being said, they also said you're they're just a collection. They're not carryover things, right? You can't trade them. right? You can't trade them. They won't be carrying over from game to They won't be carrying over from game to [music] game, right? Or that, too. [clears throat] right? Or that, too. [clears throat] Exactly. It's it's preliminary code. Uh so what with some of the stuff [music] we saw today has not been officially approved and released to the public yet. Uh as far as the games will not maybe we'll have this asset [music] or if Pokemon does, you know, say no, you can't do it this way. You need to do it a different way. They'll have to change it. Yeah, they did talk about also that that Yeah, they did talk about also that that that Nintendo in general is very very stringent about what is going to be in the machine. That segus into the IP. They were very That segus into the IP. They were very very tight on the control. All of the artwork is official artwork from Pokemon they put in this game and they they looked over apparently like every [music] pixel they were looking down and deep for like what is the the line width of the outline around that and this foot is too close to this head and this foot is too close to this head so you can't put those two characters together real quick. Yeah, they were very very particular about the artwork on this. So the the uh video and audio assets are coming from the original series. All series uh it was like 10 to 24. uh it was like 10 to 24. Yeah, it's going to focus more on like Yeah, it's going to focus more on like 10 to 23 or 24. So they're not going to be doing some of the original art because at some point they apparently went higher definition. So they wanted to use assets from that era, not not the too early assets because apparently also some Pokemon lore, some of the original stuff became not canon anymore either. So yeah, they had mentioned that season 1 yeah, they had mentioned that season 1 and season two, some of those things don't occur in the canon universe, the canon universe, right? Exactly. right? Exactly. It is its own thing. It is its own thing. It's its own own self-contained universe It's its own own self-contained universe of Pokemon. Yeah. So it is not integrated into the Yeah. So it is not integrated into the greater Pokemon universe. So that's fine. I mean, you're there to that's fine. I mean, you're there to have fun and it is kind of a unique thing, this pinball machine really. So, um, but yeah, I think, um, what what were some of the things you like the most about this game, Gary? Um, I think a lot of the shots connect Um, I think a lot of the shots connect really well. There's a lot of flow when you hit the ramps, they feed down to flippers, and then you can get orbits, and you can get a lot of combo stuff going, right? right? So, it's kind of the opposite style of So, it's kind of the opposite style of game to like a King Kong or a Winchester Mystery House. It's like this is it's more of definitely more of flow players [music] game style and that you know granted it's a two flipper setup. So it's going [music] to have to be done that way. Uh which you know there's absolutely nothing wrong with that especially when you're trying to get new people that are not familiar with pinball [music] because the Pokemon fan base may not be pinball players. This is their going to be their introduction to Pokemon. That is the most important thing to mention is because when we were walked in here and they did the slideshow, they showed us how much money [music] this franchise makes per year for how much it represents. It's a huge It's a huge It's bigger with all the they were It's bigger with all the they were showing all the ones on the bottom, Star Wars and a whole bunch of others Star Wars and a whole bunch of others fandom money universes combined, right? It's bigger than them all like combined. It's bigger than them all like combined. So that is a huge order to fill because you that is a huge order to fill because you are not only needing to fulfill making sure that the game is accessible to the younger audience which is what Pokémon is more or less about the demographics of it but also [music] but also [music] uh introduce new players to the Pokemon universe as well as pinball and pinball in general. Exactly. Come in, experience modern pinball. Does this isn't this isn't that old beat up em you saw at the local [music] bar in your small town in the 1970s. So, what I'm leading up to is [music] So, what I'm leading up to is [music] yes, this is not a typical game, but keep in mind that there are reasons behind it. And also, treat it as if it's a be movie. Yeah, it's you know what I mean? Yeah, it's you know what I mean? You know, I'd like to categorize that a You know, I'd like to categorize that a little bit. It's it's [music] an easy game as in it's not going to be that difficult to learn and [music] understand the shots, right? Easy to approach, hard to master. Yeah. hard to master. Yeah. Because there's going to be a lot of Because there's going to be a lot of deep rules in this [music] game. Yeah. And this is where the whole Yeah. And this is where the whole Insider Connected is going to help out. You you get achievements [music] and things like that, but it's also and also the modern computers that run these games [music] can do a whole lot more. So, it's going to it's going to be neat to see where and how much more it codes. This date game is definitely going to hinge on the code. Yeah, definitely. I I I think also given Yeah, definitely. I I I think also given the fact that, you know, we know that the playfield isn't like, I don't know, say uh Winchester Mystery House or DND or whatever, that doesn't mean that the game is going to be boring. It just means that it's a different way to play the game as well as the theming that goes with as well as the theming that goes with it. So, yeah. I mean, if you love a lot of the yeah. I mean, if you love a lot of the '90s classic two flipper fan layout games, you know, obviously Junkyard, Cactus Canyon, you know, a whole bunch of them come to mind, you're going to step up to it and intuitively be able to hit your shots. They're not Cactus Canyon wide, but They're not Cactus Canyon wide, but they're not Houdini tight. So, they're kind of somewhere in the middle. So, I didn't find any of the shots to be terribly utterly difficult, right? So, which is good for a lot of right? So, which is good for a lot of players. Exactly. So you'll and an experienced player will be able to get really deep into this code. Yeah. I I just I kind of wish that there Yeah. I I just I kind of wish that there it wasn't I mean haters are going to hate. I get it. But it is kind of sad to see that you But it is kind of sad to see that you know just if you do give the game a chance and if you do keep those things in mind and you treat it as if it's a be movie, a popcorn movie, like you got Jaws. Everyone loves Jaws. So the same sort of thing is happening with Pokémon except it's in a different uh generational thing. Some of us grew up liking the show and watching it and they even have kids now and now they get to, you know, share this love and experience it with their kids. What is Pokemon about? What is Pokemon about? Well, there are 150 and my [music] kids Well, there are 150 and my [music] kids know all of them. They know all the names. They know everything about them. This is a theme that most people will This is a theme that most people will see and [music] recognize whether you grew up in Pokémon or not, like I didn't, but Ed did. you're going to recognize this IP and you'll probably have a basic understanding of what the universe is thanks to the movies that came out, right? And the movie, you know, the TV shows, the TV shows, your kid, their kids watching them, you're you're going to understand the IP. So, many many many Pokémon games have come many many many Pokémon games have come and gone in the past 25 years as well. Different different generations of Different different generations of gamers have experienced that. Exactly. Exactly. So, it's good. [music] So, the artwork, So, it's good. [music] So, the artwork, I mean, we did touch on the art. The artwork is very much tightly controlled artwork by Pokemon themselves. Yeah, I it would have been kind of cool Yeah, I it would have been kind of cool to say if it was like a graphic artist sort of like reinterpretation of things like like look at King Kong. It wouldn't have worked if they hadn't have done the rework of the character and they had that freedom and ability to do so, right? Um but right? Um but but if you're a fan of Pokemon, you'll but if you're a fan of Pokemon, you'll see your favorite Pokemon stuff. So So it's good. I mean, the cabinets, the So it's good. I mean, the cabinets, the cabinets all look good, but they look very on theme for the Pokemon and stuff. So, yeah. I mean, you like everyone else, yeah. I mean, you like everyone else, you're going to have your favorite amongst others. What's funny is again, I feel like the pro art on the on the playfield and on the cabinet art looks better than the premium, but I am also very partial to Mewtwo. I am also very partial to Mewtwo. Yeah. Yeah. Mewtwo. Yeah. Yeah. Mewtwo. Mewtwo is featured on the pro cabinet Mewtwo is featured on the pro cabinet and back glass artwork. which is kind of cool. So, speaking of the differences between the Pro, Premium, and LE, the Pro and Premium look really similar. the Pro and Premium look really similar. There's not a lot of you. There's not obvious things that are taken out. So, you'll see in the back right part of the playfield, there's Pikachu. In the premium and less, it interacts with the game and and moves around like that. Um, the Pokeball, which is another, you know, enigmatic thing, interacts with the game as well in the premium and LE, but it does it doesn't do anything in the pros, but they're still there. It's not like but they're still there. It's not like they're gone. So, visually, you won't notice that. And So, visually, you won't notice that. And then I think it's the um that little hideout area where the duck hide sneak in is missing from the Pro. Okay. Okay. So, that is not there. Awesome. So, that is not there. Awesome. That's a bummer. I like that shot. That's a bummer. I like that shot. Yeah, there's I think there's a shot, Yeah, there's I think there's a shot, but it doesn't do the kick out in some subway. It doesn't like capture it and pop it out somewhere else. So, it's underneath the play field is where it's underneath the play field is where the differences are. Yeah, I do miss the magnet, honestly. Yeah, I do miss the magnet, honestly. Oh, yeah. And then there's the magnet. Oh, yeah. And then there's the magnet. I I I want the magnet. I wish that the I I I want the magnet. I wish that the magnet was on the pro because I do like um the added uh challenge and the added randomness to it. So, what Ann's talking about is in the So, what Ann's talking about is in the middle of the playfield, the upper back. It's where the junkyard was in Junkyard. It's the arena up there. And there is a in the premium and le there's a magnet that will swing the ball around and do things to swing the ball around and do things to it. The pro doesn't have that magnet. So you lose some of that additional chaos. So yeah. So yeah. So yeah. So the question becomes, okay, so yeah. So the question becomes, okay, so as I play the pro and premium more and more, like do I really miss the magnet more than the other one? Cuz I can't recall what else is missing out of the pro versus the premium. Yeah, it was basically those four Yeah, it was basically those four things. the interactive Pikachu, the magnet, uh the interactive Pokeball, and then the physical mech stuff for the Psyduck sneak. That's really the big differences in in playfield gameplay cuz the Psyduck will be able to do like locks and stuff whereas some virtual lock stuff in pros. Pretty typical differences. I if if we're missing anything out, I'm I if if we're missing anything out, I'm going to add it to a sub like a little subtitle on the bottom and say, "Oh, we should have mentioned this." So, there you go. there you go. All right. So, here's how the pop All right. So, here's how the pop bumpers work. The right orbit has an up post that can stop the ball in order for it to drop into the pops, or it can let it pass and do a full orbit. [music] The manual plunge normally drops it into the pops for the skill shot, but if you hold the left flipper down when you plunge, it will go around the orbit. Now, I thought I thought this was a nice touch for this machine, and as such, I didn't really feel like the game play slowed down too much because [music] of the pop bumpers. Um but yeah, I think um from from what from how I felt before I walked in versus how I am feeling now about it, I feel way better. Yeah, I I wish I wish that photo hadn't Yeah, I I wish I wish that photo hadn't have leaked that biased. I think a lot of opinions on people if you look at the internet there's a lot of haters and there's some and then there are people that are like I love it. It's Pokemon period doesn't matter. me. I just was a little worried about like how much similarity it would play to Junkyard and how easy Junkyard was. This is not going to be shotwise. It's not going to be the most difficult shooter, but you still have to learn the rules, but you still have to learn the rules, unlock the modes, collect the Pokemon you, you know, and battles. Yeah, there there's varying amounts of Yeah, there there's varying amounts of uh how much time do you want to spend on it? How much better do you want to be at pinball? And that will allow you to [music] [music] uh continue the the the journey and the uh continue the the the journey and the challenge. And my feeling is that there's enough that that they have Yeah. Yeah. that they'll be able to give us that they'll be able to give us and they can keep adding to it. That's and they can keep adding to it. That's the one nice thing about the whole modern pinball ecosystem is they can add updates in code unlike old games where the operator would have to get a ROM and then it was mostly just like we found a bug. You know, we didn't really add new assets. We tweaked a few little things, but games just in the '9s just weren't as deep as today's games can be. And with the new Spike 3 system with a much more powerful computer bounty, they can do a lot more, right? right? Which [music] is nice. So, Which [music] is nice. So, yeah. Yeah, definitely. yeah. Yeah, definitely. But all in all, I think um overall o But all in all, I think um overall o overall I think our impressions of the game are good are good. You know, we're pleased with the way it came out. I also heard rumblings that, you know, I also heard rumblings that, you know, that oh, you didn't it's you know, it's not ready yet. The assets aren't ready yet. Well, big deal. You got a little watermark that says assets um pending. Big deal. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think that's a huge deal. So, I don't think that's a huge deal. So, if that's the only thing that that came if that's the only thing that that came of it and that's what people are going to complain about, that's silly. Yeah, it's silly because that's that'll Yeah, it's silly because that's that'll get that'll get released and, you know, license so there won't be an issue with that. Right. Right. Um, but overall, it's Right. Right. Um, but overall, it's great to see that Stern's adventuring into different territories in terms of those things because I can only imagine what the challenges are um when working with a company like Nintendo or any any other company for that matter that really want to keep their assets and their and their properties in the the correct ways and so forth, which makes sense. It's your It's your beloved baby. I get it. Yeah. It's like one of the largest IPs. Yeah. It's like one of the largest IPs. So, they they're going to be very tight on the control. So, in a sense, they might have I don't So, in a sense, they might have I don't know if Stern's necessarily come out of their comfort zone, per se, uh to create this and that and then that's the result of it or if they have other things in mind where they're going to continue to grab other other IPs and other things to try to get more and more people into pivol. That's what I'm curious about in the future. But all in all, I think it was it was a good experience with the game. It exceeded my expectations [music] and that's the best kind, right? and that's the best kind, right? All right, that's it. Thanks for All right, that's it. Thanks for watching this video. I hope you like what we do. And if you do, like this [music] video, and then subscribe and click that notification bell. That way, you get notified when we go live [music] with Pinball or we have a new video upload. And please drop some comments as well. And please drop some comments as well. We'd love to hear what your thoughts are on this game, what you want to see out of Pokemon, and anything that's on your mind. So, hope to hear from you and uh hope to see you when we go live again. All right. Thanks. Bye All right. Thanks. Bye bye.