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Slam Tilt hosts recap Allentown Pinball Expo with gameplay reviews and tournament observations.
Black Knight Sword of Rage has a recurring lock shot malfunction affecting at least four machines where the ball gets stuck instead of locking properly
high confidence · Ron describes observing this issue on multiple Black Knights at the show and previously
The new Black Knight Sword of Rage code release (.92) had a bug where the skill shot lights were not displaying, though one lane remained lit for skill shot with no visual indicator
high confidence · Bruce and Ron discuss the tournament issue where players couldn't see which lane had the skill shot lit
Black Knight Sword of Rage plays significantly differently than typical Steve Ritchie games, with no repeatable flow shots and requiring specific flipper positioning for each shot
high confidence · Ron and Bruce discuss gameplay mechanics and design philosophy differences
Lethal Weapon 3 is the best Data East game according to Ron, with three distinct scoring strategies
medium confidence · Ron makes claim; Bruce disagrees citing Guns N' Roses and WWE as alternatives
The Allentown show had an unusually long entry line on Friday, with approximately 30-40 minute wait times
high confidence · Ron describes line extending around parking lot; Bruce arrived at 12:20 with 10-minute pre-opening wait
Lethal Weapon 3 is the 'year of' game at this year's Allentown show, with multiple units available for purchase
medium confidence · Ron notes every year has a dominant game (Meteor year, Nineball year, etc.) and this is Lethal Weapon 3's year
Monster Bash (remake) has better flipper response than AFM and the Cliffy Protector is already damaged after a couple of show appearances
medium confidence · Bruce observed at Allentown show
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 film) features a 60s-style psychedelic boat scene despite being released in 1971
high confidence · Ron and Bruce discuss the film; Bruce corrects that it's 1971 not 60s but maintains the psychedelic style
“There really is no chance for a repeatable shot in this game... With Steve Ritchie games, you're usually just on the fly. You go for flow. You go for repeatable shots. And there really is no chance for a repeatable shot in this game.”
Bruce Nightingale @ ~45:00 — Identifies fundamental design departure from Steve Ritchie's established methodology in Black Knight Sword of Rage
“Every year seems to have a game that it's like the one year was the Meteor year... This year is the year of Lethal Weapon 3.”
Ron Hallett @ ~28:00 — Identifies secondary market trending pattern at pinball expos where specific game titles dominate vendor inventory
“The line is just as long. I'm like, holy shit. All right. So we're going to do something. I went over to the pastry or cake section of the farmer's market. Got myself a cake... I won. I won.”
Ron Hallett @ ~18:00 — Anecdotal evidence of unprecedented venue crowding at Allentown show, humorous coping mechanism
“It almost was like a street-level Gottlieb game... It's like there's nothing on that thing. It's almost like Iron Man with the one really cool toy... and then the rest of it is just kind of like there.”
Bruce Nightingale @ ~41:00 — Critique of Black Knight Sword of Rage's playfield sparseness relative to modern designer expectations
“Tim, come on. You put Keeler on there. You put Levy on there. Come on. Help a brother out... We made you famous.”
Ron Hallett @ ~52:00 — Highlights community dynamics and podcast influence on designer credibility and in-game recognition
product_concern: Black Knight Sword of Rage lock shot mechanism appears to have a systematic issue affecting multiple units where balls get stuck instead of locking properly, observed on at least four different machines
high · Ron: 'I noticed it had the same issue I've seen on at least two other Black Knights now... So that's four of them now that have the same issue.'
code_update: New Black Knight Sword of Rage code version (.92) released right before Allentown show contained a skill shot display bug where the skill shot lane was lit but no light indicator was visible
high · Bruce and Ron discuss tournament impact: skill shot lights were missing from display, making it impossible to see which lane was lit without hitting it
design_philosophy: Black Knight Sword of Rage represents significant departure from Steve Ritchie's established design methodology by eliminating repeatable flow shots, requiring specific flipper positioning for each shot rather than enabling organic flow-based play
high · Bruce: 'With Steve Ritchie games, you're usually just on the fly. You go for flow. You go for repeatable shots. And there really is no chance for a repeatable shot in this game.'
event_signal: Allentown Pinball Expo experienced unprecedented Friday entry line with 30-40 minute wait times extending around parking lot, unusually crowded Friday despite appearing less crowded throughout the day than typical shows
high · Ron describes hour-long wait in farmer's market while line remained same length; multiple mentions of never seeing line like that before
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market_signal: Lethal Weapon 3 identified as dominant trading game at Allentown show this year, with multiple units available for purchase; follows pattern of yearly dominant trading games (Meteor year, Nineball year, etc.)
medium · Ron: 'This year is the year of Lethal Weapon 3... They heard that you bought one, so now they're going to bring them all out.'
gameplay_signal: Black Knight Sword of Rage playfield described as sparse with minimal ramps, compared unfavorably to even Iron Man which had two ramps; consists mainly of up-kickers and lane feeds rather than ramp-based shots
high · Bruce: 'It seems like a stripped down... Even Iron Man had two ramps. Exactly. You know, so. There really is no ramps on this game. It's just up kicks and then ramp feeding.'
product_concern: Monster Bash (remake) Cliffy Protector already showing damage after only a couple of show appearances, suggesting potential durability or protection design issue
medium · Bruce: 'that Cliffy Protector was beat up already on the out'
community_signal: Podcast hosts assert their influence on designer credibility and in-game recognition, requesting designer Tim Ball include podcast initials or reference in high score table entries
medium · Ron: 'We made you famous. All I want is just Loop Champion. Make Bruce the Loop Champion... Come on, Tim. Make it happen.'
content_signal: Carl D'Angelo at IEPinball streamed Black Knight Sword of Rage launch party tournament with bracket format, featuring new animation for Retro Mode unlock
medium · Ron references Carl D'Angelo stream at twitch.tv/IEPinball covering launch party tournament with finals challenges
tournament_signal: Black Knight Sword of Rage tournament setup at Allentown show configured with brutally hard settings, generating player complaints, separate from skill shot bug issue
medium · Ron: 'in the tournament, the games were, like, set up brutally hard. And that might be another discussion for another time. There's a lot of complaints by the players.'
venue_signal: Silverwall Saloon in East Rochester, NY recently acquired Black Knight Sword of Rage and is hosting launch parties
high · Ron describes playing BKSOR at Silverwall Saloon (135 West Commercial Street) and mentions it's a brand new arrival; venue also hosting launch party