Zen Pinball 2 on PS3 FAQ

[draig3791]

Omg! Did I read that right? A Dr. Strange table. when/if it comes out I am so all over that!

[warlock7]

Two more chances!

I know! It's pretty torturous. I want you to play it as much as you want to play it! Getting to play it at E3 was so cruel because now I have to wait for the awesomeness!

Barbie! Two more opportunities left. Any idea where the hold up is? SCEA appears to be putting the 'blame' squarely on Zen Studios for the delay.

[BarbieBobomb]

Barbie! Two more opportunities left. Any idea where the hold up is? SCEA appears to be putting the 'blame' squarely on Zen Studios for the delay.

No news as of yet! We should know our date pretty soon

[Bearded_Warrior]

Yes it is A table based on a popular PopCap game is in the works, a Dr.Strange table is kind of confirmed(?), and word about a Marvel Civil War table might be in the works, and who knows what else!

Omg! Did I read that right? A Dr. Strange table. when/if it comes out I am so all over that!

The Dr. Strange table was confirmed in an issue of Game Informer a few months back, as well as the Civil War table. I scanned in the article for your reading pleasure but I guess some of you guys may have missed it.

Sauce:

https://forum.zenstudios.com/showthread.php?4059-Game-Informer-Scanned-Photos

[surf1der]

Thanks for posting that.
From the article:

"deeper level of social interactivity." I hope that doesn't mean more Facebook and twitter integration.

"meta-game progression system." i hope that doesn't mean more epic quest stat progression type tables. Although epic quest is a fun table, it is not pinball. Pinball is all about the high score and previous gameplay should in no way impact future games.

[Rafie]

Thanks for posting that.
From the article:

"deeper level of social interactivity." I hope that doesn't mean more Facebook and twitter integration.

"meta-game progression system." i hope that doesn't mean more epic quest stat progression type tables. Although epic quest is a fun table, it is not pinball. Pinball is all about the high score and previous gameplay should in no way impact future games.

Zen pinball still is pinball, but in another approach. That's what makes Zen different from the others. Fantasy virtual pinball that appeals to the audience in a different way. I absolutely love it. No other company has ever done that before and THAT'S what I like about Zen, amongst other things. Nothing wrong with RPG based tables bro. I don't even like RPG's and Epic Quest was umm....epic!

If you want just straight to the point pinball simulation, then Pinball Arcade would be more up your alley. Although both Zen and FS seem to have pinball's interest in their own way, you should keep in open mind about various options and implementations that Zen does. Just a thought. I don't mean any disrespect!

[chiralfox]

Thanks for posting that.
"meta-game progression system." i hope that doesn't mean more epic quest stat progression type tables. Although epic quest is a fun table, it is not pinball. Pinball is all about the high score and previous gameplay should in no way impact future games.

I would like to point out that jackpot progressions are not a concept introduced by video pinball. The only real pin that have such a concept that I can think of off of the top of my head is Taxi, though I know there are others. A plethora of lousy players can lead to an immense one-time jackpot. There is another pin (the name escapes me) where one could steal (!) another player's progression effort.

So certainly, I would argue, meta-game progression has its place in pinball, physical or digital. In my opinion, Epic Quest is actually one of the better digital tables because it reaches beyond the constraints of trying to be a "realistic" table. But, that is my mere opinion.

[tenorhero]

Zen pinball still is pinball, but in another approach. That's what makes Zen different from the others. Fantasy virtual pinball that appeals to the audience in a different way. I absolutely love it. No other company has ever done that before and THAT'S what I like about Zen, amongst other things. Nothing wrong with RPG based tables bro. I don't even like RPG's and Epic Quest was umm....epic!

If you want just straight to the point pinball simulation, then Pinball Arcade would be more up your alley. Although both Zen and FS seem to have pinball's interest in their own way, you should keep in open mind about various options and implementations that Zen does. Just a thought. I don't mean any disrespect!

Right on the money there. Every pinball fan have certain preferences in what they enjoy. There are some that don't like Zen because it's not realistic in a sense you wont see Zen's stuff any where near a real table. I love Pinball Arcade but I prefer Zen only because of their originality in table design.

You will have your pinball purists out there. I'm in the middle right now. I love the fact you can play the old tables that I grew up with in a simulation but the physics feel a bit off and the ball feels way too 'Floaty' for my liking. There are tables that PA has that feel pretty good - Just wish it would be fairly similar with all the tables as far as the weight of the ball. They can still make the bumpers and sling shots more bouncy I guess. If you're a fan of pinball, Both games are superb.

[Dinosaur Toy]

I would suggest that a good term, at this point, for the sort of pinball sim Zen represents is 'augmented reality'. Or AR.

Within the continuum of computer pinball games, there seem to be three general categories:

1. Fantasy pinball - these games may have relatively realistic ball physics, but their tables and environment are primarily game worlds. A great example is Metroid Prime Pinball for the Nintendo DS. Decent physics actually, but the ball itself is a morphball, it drops bombs to affect its own trajectory. The tables are complete fantasy environments that don't obey the physics of a real life table built from real materials. The tables are full of roaming animated characters that freely interact with the ball.

2. Augmented reality pinball - this would be a Zen table and a few others like them. Here, the virtual cabinet is imagined to stand in a real place, and is constructed at the basic level of realistic materials following the general construction and dimensions of a table that could be built in real life. Ball physics are mostly realistic and the player's primary abilities are limited to that of a real life pinball player - there's no extra control over the ball, you just use flipper buttons, along with nudging the table. However, there is a layer of augmented reality over the table. There are some animated characters who aren't mechanical. Some devices and gadgets on the board, as well as visual effects, aren't possible (yet) in real life. Something may occasionally interact with the ball, but it doesn't take away the feeling of mostly normal pinball play. I think AR is a good term to use as AR games and technology are becoming common. The newer Zen tables are something you might imagine being constructed in real life that worked in tandem with a set of AR glasses, to overlay the fantasy elements onto the real table in front of you. (In fact, we may see something like this actually happen.)

3. Simulation pinball - these games aim to restrict their table design and play mechanics only to what is currently possible in real life pinball. They don't have to have the most realistic physics, but every element of the table and the environment has a realistic justification. Even older video pinball games, like the 21st Century / Digital Illusions Amiga tables, would be considered simulation tables I think. I am under the impression that some of Zen's earlier tables, the launch sets in Pinball FX and Zen Pinball, were more simulation tables than AR - they were mostly (or entirely) realistic and animated details on the tables were justified by imitating electro-mechanical construction. Farsight's various Pinball Arcade releases and revisions have helped solidify just what simulation pinball means as they become more and more realistic and precise.

Perhaps the way to look at it, is that the basic mechanic of pinball itself - using flippers or similar devices to launch a weighted ball around a reactive environment and keep the ball in play - isn't something inherently bound to a physical machine. It is a universal game mechanic, and it has a lot of appeal because it is extremely 'open' - it's incredibly easy to learn, but can take a lifetime to master. So anyone can try it. Could be a reason why, despite the almost-death for a while of pinball in real life, the pinball concept hasn't died out. There is a perpetual audience for it.

[draig3791]

So what issue number is that? I'm trying to hunt it down in my collection.

The Dr. Strange table was confirmed in an issue of Game Informer a few months back, as well as the Civil War table. I scanned in the article for your reading pleasure but I guess some of you guys may have missed it.

Sauce:

https://forum.zenstudios.com/showthr...Scanned-Photos

[Rafie]

I would suggest that a good term, at this point, for the sort of pinball sim Zen represents is 'augmented reality'. Or AR.

Within the continuum of computer pinball games, there seem to be three general categories:

1. Fantasy pinball - these games may have relatively realistic ball physics, but their tables and environment are primarily game worlds. A great example is Metroid Prime Pinball for the Nintendo DS. Decent physics actually, but the ball itself is a morphball, it drops bombs to affect its own trajectory. The tables are complete fantasy environments that don't obey the physics of a real life table built from real materials. The tables are full of roaming animated characters that freely interact with the ball.

2. Augmented reality pinball - this would be a Zen table and a few others like them. Here, the virtual cabinet is imagined to stand in a real place, and is constructed at the basic level of realistic materials following the general construction and dimensions of a table that could be built in real life. Ball physics are mostly realistic and the player's primary abilities are limited to that of a real life pinball player - there's no extra control over the ball, you just use flipper buttons, along with nudging the table. However, there is a layer of augmented reality over the table. There are some animated characters who aren't mechanical. Some devices and gadgets on the board, as well as visual effects, aren't possible (yet) in real life. Something may occasionally interact with the ball, but it doesn't take away the feeling of mostly normal pinball play. I think AR is a good term to use as AR games and technology are becoming common. The newer Zen tables are something you might imagine being constructed in real life that worked in tandem with a set of AR glasses, to overlay the fantasy elements onto the real table in front of you. (In fact, we may see something like this actually happen.)

3. Simulation pinball - these games aim to restrict their table design and play mechanics only to what is currently possible in real life pinball. They don't have to have the most realistic physics, but every element of the table and the environment has a realistic justification. Even older video pinball games, like the 21st Century / Digital Illusions Amiga tables, would be considered simulation tables I think. I am under the impression that some of Zen's earlier tables, the launch sets in Pinball FX and Zen Pinball, were more simulation tables than AR - they were mostly (or entirely) realistic and animated details on the tables were justified by imitating electro-mechanical construction. Farsight's various Pinball Arcade releases and revisions have helped solidify just what simulation pinball means as they become more and more realistic and precise.

Perhaps the way to look at it, is that the basic mechanic of pinball itself - using flippers or similar devices to launch a weighted ball around a reactive environment and keep the ball in play - isn't something inherently bound to a physical machine. It is a universal game mechanic, and it has a lot of appeal because it is extremely 'open' - it's incredibly easy to learn, but can take a lifetime to master. So anyone can try it. Could be a reason why, despite the almost-death for a while of pinball in real life, the pinball concept hasn't died out. There is a perpetual audience for it.

I hear what you're saying and I agree. However, its also a fantasy pinball simulation as well. Just look at tables like Epic Quest and Infinity Gauntlet. That defies the laws of physics through morphs and such as you put it, doesn't it? So you can say that Zen is both that of AR and fantasy. I'm leaning more towards fantasy though.

[BarbieBobomb]

So what issue number is that? I'm trying to hunt it down in my collection.

I think it's 228, I can't remember but it is the one with Ezio on the cover. I sent all my copies to the team in Budapest, I think it would have been the April issue (or possibly March). I hope I didn't thoroughly confuse you...

[draig3791]

Nah, you didn't confuse me. and Yes, it is # 228 (April 2012)

[BarbieBobomb]

Nah, you didn't confuse me. and Yes, it is # 228 (April 2012)

YAY! Glad we got it figured out

[draig3791]

Me too ^^!!!

YAY! Glad we got it figured out