Episode 39 – Danielle Peck + JJPOTC Disc + Colin MacAlpine

Head2Head Pinball·podcast_episode·2h 1m·analyzed·Apr 16, 2018

Analysis

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TL;DR

JJP's Pirates of the Caribbean production builds feature simplified disc and chest mechanisms based on field testing.

Summary

Eric Meunier, designer of Pirates of the Caribbean at Jersey Jack Pinball, announces two significant mechanical changes to production units based on extensive field testing: replacing the triple spinning disc with a single, more reliable disc mechanism, and modifying the chest mechanism to keep its lid permanently open for improved ball routing. These refinements address reliability concerns identified during prototype testing at shows and internally before mass production.

Key Claims

The triple spinning disc mechanism has been changed to a single spinning disc for reliability and noise reduction
high confidence · Eric Meunier, designer, official production update
The single spinning disc mechanism is established and has been used for years in pinball with no reliability concerns
medium confidence · Meunier comparing new design to industry standard practices
The chest lid mechanism previously used an opening/closing diverter that caused issues at shows
high confidence · Meunier citing field testing findings that drove the design change
The stationary open chest lid results in better ball routing with no kickback
high confidence · Designer explanation of mechanical improvement
Jersey Jack performed rigorous field testing at shows and internally before production release
high confidence · Meunier describing testing methodology

Notable Quotes

“The first change we made was to the triple spinning disc mechanism. We decided to change it to a single spinning disc physically in the playfield. It's a much more reliable mechanism, runs a lot quieter.”
Eric Meunier @ early — Core mechanical change announcement for Pirates of the Caribbean production version
“I really want these games to hold up for generations to come, and I'm glad we made these changes.”
Eric Meunier @ mid-late — Reflects design philosophy prioritizing long-term reliability and customer satisfaction
“The lid of the chest is now going to stay open at all times... now with it stationary, this is a much better shot.”
Eric Meunier @ mid — Explanation of second major mechanical refinement based on testing
“The rigorous testing we've done here at Jersey Jack has found these issues before we put the games out for production, which is something I'm very proud of.”
Eric Meunier @ late — Emphasizes proactive quality control and field validation before release

Entities

Eric Meunierperson Jersey Jack Pinballcompany Pirates of the Caribbeangame Midwest Gaming ClassiceventWheelchair Pinballorganization

Signals

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community_signal: Jersey Jack Pinball planning live stream Wednesday at 3 PM Central on Twitch with game team and designer to discuss Pirates of the Caribbean changes with community
high · Meunier: 'We're also going to be live streaming this Wednesday at 3 p.m. Central on Twitch... let us know your thoughts'
?
event_signal: Eric Meunier availability at Midwest Gaming Classic this weekend (Saturday/Sunday) for player feedback and discussion at Wheelchair Pinball booth
high · Meunier: 'I'm gonna be at Midwest Gaming Classic this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Come find me at Wheelchair Pinball'
?
product_strategy: Jersey Jack Pinball replacing triple spinning disc mechanism with single disc in Pirates of the Caribbean production units to improve reliability and reduce noise based on prototype field testing
high · Meunier: 'We decided to change it to a single spinning disc... It's a much more reliable mechanism, runs a lot quieter. It's an established mech that's been used for years in pinball'
?
product_concern: Jersey Jack implementing mechanical refinements (chest lid mechanism change) identified during field testing at shows and internal testing before production release
high · Meunier: 'The rigorous testing we've done here at Jersey Jack has found these issues before we put the games out for production, which is something I'm very proud of'

Topics

Pirates of the Caribbean production refinementsprimaryMechanical design changes and reliability improvementsprimaryField testing methodology and quality assuranceprimaryDisc mechanism evolution (triple to single)secondaryJersey Jack Pinball production timelinesecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Meunier expresses confidence in design changes, pride in quality control process, and optimism about customer reception. Tone is professional, enthusiastic, and customer-focused. No criticism or negative sentiment present.

Transcript

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good afternoon everyone I'm Eric Meunier game designer at Jersey Jack pinball my game designer at Jersey Jack pinball my designed parts of the Caribbean yeah I'm designed parts of the Caribbean yeah I'm here to give you guys an update on how here to give you guys an update on how we're coming along for production games we're coming along for production games are coming out soon with that in mind are coming out soon with that in mind we've made some tweaks from the we've made some tweaks from the prototype games from the extensive prototype games from the extensive testing that we've done here at Jersey testing that we've done here at Jersey Jarek so we test games in the field we Jarek so we test games in the field we test them out of pinball shows we test test them out of pinball shows we test them out of pinball shows we test them internally and we found some them internally and we found some mechanisms that required some tweaking mechanisms that required some tweaking in order to make the games perfect for in order to make the games perfect for you when you have them in your home the you when you have them in your home the first change we made was to the triple first change we made was to the triple spinning disc mechanism we decided to spinning disc mechanism we decided to change it to a single spinning disc change it to a single spinning disc physically in the play field it's a much physically in the play field it's a much more reliable mechanism runs a lot more reliable mechanism runs a lot quieter it's an established mech that's quieter it's an established mech that's been used for years in pinball no been used for years in pinball no concerns about its reliability anymore concerns about its reliability anymore and as you can see here we're still and as you can see here we're still doing the random generated award we doing the random generated award we still have the plundering so you can still have the plundering so you can steal from other people that you're steal from other people that you're playing against the jackpots at random playing against the jackpots at random Awards multipliers etc the playfield art Awards multipliers etc the playfield art itself has been brought in slightly to itself has been brought in slightly to use just the single spinning disc you use just the single spinning disc you can see the art there and how it looks can see the art there and how it looks there it is the other tweak we've made there it is the other tweak we've made was to the chest mechanism so the lid of was to the chest mechanism so the lid of the chest is now going to stay open at the chest is now going to stay open at all times this is used to open and close all times this is used to open and close with the diverter mechanism underneath with the diverter mechanism underneath the chest to kick the balls up into the the chest to kick the balls up into the chest to kick the balls up into the chest that was causing a couple issues chest that was causing a couple issues at different shows and now with it at different shows and now with it stationary this is a much better shot stationary this is a much better shot the ball shoots into the air doesn't the ball shoots into the air doesn't kickback out much more reliable and I'm kickback out much more reliable and I'm very happy with it so the rigorous very happy with it so the rigorous testing we've done here at Jersey Jack testing we've done here at Jersey Jack has found these issues before we put the has found these issues before we put the games out for production which is games out for production which is something I'm very proud of I really something I'm very proud of I really want these games to hold up for want these games to hold up for generations to come generations to come and I'm glad we made these changes I and I'm glad we made these changes I can't wait for people to get these games can't wait for people to get these games and play them in their homes if you have and play them in their homes if you have any questions for me I'm gonna be at any questions for me I'm gonna be at Midwest gaming classic this weekend Midwest gaming classic this weekend Saturday and Sunday come find me Saturday and Sunday come find me wheelchair pinball we'll hang out we're wheelchair pinball we'll hang out we're also going to be live streaming this also going to be live streaming this Wednesday at 3 p.m. central on Twitch Wednesday at 3 p.m. central on Twitch hope you guys can join us join into the hope you guys can join us join into the chat chat with me in the rest of the chat chat with me in the rest of the game team and let us know your thoughts game team and let us know your thoughts thanks