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SDTM: Alien pinball unboxing and gameplay

Straight Down the Middle·video·35m 34s·held·Oct 27, 2017
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Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.016

TL;DR

SDTM unboxes and inspects new Alien pinball from Spooky with detailed mechanical and electronic observations.

Summary

Straight Down the Middle crew unboxes and performs initial inspection of a new Alien pinball machine from Spooky Pinball (batch of 21 from Coin Takers). The video covers cabinet assembly, playfield features, ramp construction, electronic components, and sound system setup. The team notes solid build quality, some design observations (ramp mounting, finish details), and confirms factory-installed shaker.

Key Claims

  • Alien pinball machine arrived as part of batch of 21 from Coin Takers distributor

    high confidence · Larry (host) at opening of video

  • Machine came without backbox initially (or uncertainty about whether it was included)

    medium confidence · Early unboxing discussion: 'I don't know if they kindly will come with a different mixer the different backbox or not'

  • Ramp mounting posts were not anchored into playfield structure, raising questions about design change or afterthought

    medium confidence · Mark: 'we noticed that the the ramp years I guess to secure the ramped into this into the posts weren't actually into anything and we were wondering if maybe it was an afterthought or a geometry change'

  • Ramp mounting was confirmed to be solid despite initial concern

    high confidence · Mark: 'it's really really solid I mean whole cabinets we would want to try to shake the ramp'

  • All LEDs are board-mounted rather than through-hole

    high confidence · Team observation during inspection: 'all the LEDs are our board mounted there'

  • Machine includes factory-installed shaker motor (600 watts)

    high confidence · Greg/crew: 'shaker in factory installed yeah the APIs I didn't know it did be honest with you I just thought the Ellie only came with that'

  • Playfield ramp finish is not polished and will require buffing as machine is played

    high confidence · Team discussion: 'the finish of the ramps doesn't yeah it doesn't look they didn't polish it... as you play this will get shiny'

  • Flipper design and construction appears solid with smooth operation

    high confidence · Visual inspection during assembly: flippers noted as well-constructed with rubber damping

Notable Quotes

  • “we noticed that the the ramp years I guess to secure the ramped into this into the posts weren't actually into anything and we were wondering if maybe it was an afterthought or a geometry change or something like that”

    Mark @ ~mid-video during ramp inspection — Identifies potential design uncertainty about ramp mounting, though later confirmed to be solid

  • “the finish of the ramps doesn't yeah it doesn't look they didn't polish it... as you play this will get shiny”

    [name withheld pending review] @ ~late video playfield discussion — Notes cosmetic finish detail that may improve with play/buffing

  • “shaker in factory installed yeah the APIs I didn't know it did be honest with you I just thought the Ellie only came with that”

    Greg @ ~machine power-up section — Confirms factory shaker installation as surprise feature

  • “it's really really solid I mean whole cabinets we would want to try to shake the ramp”

    Mark @ ~ramp inspection conclusion — Validates ramp construction quality despite initial mounting concerns

Entities

Straight Down the MiddleorganizationLarrypersonRick KellypersonGregpersonMarkpersonAaronpersonAliengameSpooky PinballcompanyCoin Takerscompany

Signals

  • ?

    product_concern: Initial uncertainty about ramp mounting posts not being anchored to playfield structure, raising questions about design intent or manufacturing change. Ultimately confirmed as solid but indicates potential clarity issues in production documentation.

    medium · Mark's detailed observation about ramp posts not being 'actually into anything' followed by testing confirmation that structure is solid despite ambiguous attachment method

  • ?

    product_concern: Playfield ramps arrive with unpolished finish, requiring buffing/Novus treatment as machine is played. Team notes this as minor cosmetic issue that improves with use.

    high · Multiple crew members note unpolished ramp finish and discuss need for buffing: 'they didn't polish it yeah right so as you play this will get shiny'

  • ?

    design_innovation: Board-mounted LEDs throughout machine instead of through-hole components. Factory-installed 600W shaker motor in standard configuration, suggesting integrated audio/haptics approach.

    high · Crew observations: 'all the LEDs are our board mounted there' and confirmation of factory shaker installation

  • ?

    gameplay_signal: Playfield construction, ramp mounting, flipper assembly, and mechanical details reviewed as solid and well-executed. Crew expresses confidence in build quality after inspection.

    high · Mark's confirmation: 'it's really really solid I mean whole cabinets we would want to try to shake the ramp' and general positive assessment of mechanical assembly

  • ?

    product_launch: Alien pinball entering distribution phase with batch of 21 units shipped to Coin Takers distributor, indicating production ramp-up and availability beginning.

Transcript

youtube_auto_sub · $0.000

0:30
these guys we put this work hi guys my name's Larry independent pinch side got some mind good base here Rick Kelly hoagie Greg behind the camera listen while Aaron and Mark Murphy or my voice here we're going to unlock the highway pinball just came in I was in the batch of 21 from coin takers from Lissa yes I've been reading pin size yes I'm alone never spell from this but we're going to see it opens up when put together with my voice help here and super gets this thing going wish us luck thanks guys
2:11
that box is detached I'll box of damage where I got so whipped but so far you'll see nothing now nothing on it just yet okay
4:28
there's no host for attachments for beacon freely I don't know if they kindly will come with a different mixer the different back box or not
4:54
there's not one check that your employee should have and I don't know anything about the boards or what's important work in this team yeah I know I know this I don't think so for sure nice thinking the same thing at however terrible they are yeah I think if you do have problems down the road of weather that's my concern too and then uh hopefully got to mostly update us all and all the guys says some of there's some kind of a plexi screen over this part here thought I'd help protect that yeah and cousin he didn't notice at first he had take off and he said I know these two this is fight here okay

high · Larry: 'I was in the batch of 21 from coin takers from Lissa' and unboxing of retail unit

  • ?

    content_signal: SDTM producing detailed unboxing and technical inspection content for recently released Alien machine, providing community documentation of build quality and assembly details.

    high · Full video dedicated to Alien unboxing with multiple crew members providing detailed observations and commentary

    • 6:04
    oh well they just pop out so 1401 OTT there's three I'm gonna swing open
    6:47
    we repeat open a free Shaolin it reminds me of a lot different it's turn that's for sure just watching you're ready to go what's the problem commercials - what a disclaimer right in now you remove the other where's the frickin instructions chrissakes those English people the screws twenty-seven machine
    8:47
    for the legs so did you feel that plastic on here's like a plastic armor around the box but that's how they're reset like the action most of the boss nice yeah and there's like a plastic wrapper around the whole thing how we give you a on your box your body but your back box you got work on me okay oh yeah things like extra buttons actually is engraved into the body of the pinball's which is nice you have to worry about getting a competent protectors for anything my dad okay he's knew how we these new a pinball company sir
    10:37
    I guess you say to go this long that's pretty cool I don't like the bat box he did avoid it good I can I could she was kind of like a bear in the third fifth anniversary of that I really don't make sacred screensteps oh got one little piece of plastic over there they're all hands on deck change that to all of us right so yeah does this whole deal just lift up it looks like it's got a lever like a Sega I sit there you okay
    12:59
    so if you're gonna replace your glass oh how good do these look like they're they all rubber greg is not the heart yeah the only thing I heard that sometimes F long plays these things will snap off right here at the tail some guy like
    13:22
    that's what you're saying about the flippers you look that whole Mick Oh comes down just slides down and drops under the play field and you take the whole flipper oh wow okay the artworks lot looks a lot better in person so it looks really good
    13:50
    this is worth shooting I think you could put in whatever class you want yeah if I'm doing the channel but the glass also has a rubber in there to prevent it from vibrating looks like there's rubber on both sides to the middle side in the metal side and badly it's very very soft
    14:24
    or you see it I was wondering how yeah so this in case you won't get you a swap kid on it that's pretty that's pretty nice ion you know they handle this or not isn't it's the guys that's really tight get out though what he said especially the pro film a plastic on there - it's not gonna be mm-hmm folks I think Chuck part even sure right now I think I think dealt on pinch side stage
    15:10
    [Music] [Laughter] yeah literally just keep the same Ken at the fat glass come the translate or whatever you consider yeah never know that it wasn't anything else
    17:08
    good shot of that do you want to tell us about that mark about what we were thinking about well we noticed that the the ramp years I guess to secure the ramped into this into the posts weren't actually into anything and we were wondering if maybe it was an afterthought or a geometry change or something like that but it's really really solid I mean whole cabinets we would want to try to shake the ramp a little bit yes so whatever it was it's not just sitting in there and doesn't worry me as much that's more solid about place the ramp on a stern yeah yeah you ever need the protectors business - yeah
    17:57
    this is sort of scares an apron tattoos here instead of on the top leg starts nice what mark how far you go you're beyond gradient we come back oh wow no full rails or four else oh yeah sure is it okay and you've actually got notches closer back what's that big amplifier looks like you got notches here for it to rest in nice so just I'll just make sure thank you well I can tell there thinks I'm see nothing out place do you oh great they did the slider is a lot like the Williams Star Wars Episode on oh yes they're going through this there's a thing Sega did this side are the pawns it's like it's smooth it's like glass yeah it's like it's different than the stern there's like tons of words here stereospecific just maybe a bummer yes all the LEDs are our board mounted there good was that what the problem way before the folder on the well are they all through or they someone's surface they'll look through Darnton okay so we think I you know I don't see how you checked here cuz the guy said better connections I thought you said something come filmed on this monitor but I don't see this I didn't see it either film on the front his on the front I thought I'd wait disorders
    20:25
    okay okay on the furniture when they wanted to get more pacer hey I'm sorry I'm for me which is a 600 Watts up in there mmm-hmm why do you think they put plexiglass across hit or like it it's nothing falls on it what you have air balls we've all doesn't fly down to that play better I hated all the posts I'm a good post hitter no we don't have as many fuses here there's a sticker over the diagram you can see it when it's light behind it so they must have changed everything class is heavy I see what the weights come into that
    22:25
    hypersleep thing that's pretty cool it's plastic but I remember some videos rusty around here and look rusty and it's really sharp yeah that's one thing that just awful looking at the playfield that stands out for me is the finish of the ramps doesn't yeah it doesn't look they didn't polish it yeah right so as you play this will get shiny he looks like they just will sew squirt some Novus all over I'll go down boys you'll be buffing the ramps she I like it without the the wiring light that's why I went to just need out the le and dropped in with the SE because uh you know I think the way they put the plastic here it looks really good yeah I didn't really pay attention what the yell or what the yellow wire or whatever look like before yeah you look like they can't put two gear for that show just for that videos did okay I like a simple style more closely opposed yeah okay cool play for long and plug in and used to change was a suit over there yeah I guess we can
    24:11
    lit up for sale sign up a few thought the whole over cheese something up come on baby scared yeah that's crazy
    26:08
    I know next player I'll look that and it's just three team of okay lady Pregnant's hmm see what they look like
    26:33
    for no it's not noticing if older if it doesn't do anything until you've turned it off and I could hear a thing though yeah knocker sound shaker panel so it's came with her shaker in factory installed yeah the APIs I didn't know it did be honest with you I just thought the Ellie only came with that any of the gameplay stuff in so does anybody mm-hmm
    27:35
    does anyone know his story actually I think it's flippers splendid yeah like you can't see me [Music]
    29:49
    [Music] [Applause] I knew really other than the Queen [Music]
    33:06
    yeah I think I think your super jackpot was a little next