How about some originality in the tables?

[Trynyty]

I love Zen, but the other company has tables that aren't themed. They are very diverse.

When I first logged into ZP2, I turned away from it because it seemed that EVERYTHING was Superhero related. I ended up spending $200 over last weekend when I found out that the tables were in 3D! I came back to spend more time in the selection menu and found that there were more tables than just Supermen In Tights. I bought every table that WASNT Marvel. WOOOOOOO I love it.

I am new here, so is this trend ongoing or does Zen disperse occasional tables with unique themes, or is it lately all Marvel cash-in spam?

Thanks in advance!

[Rafie]

Welcome to the forums, Trynyty!

To answer your question, Zen has quite a few original tables.

Zen Pinball Core Pack - (V12, Shaman, El Dorado, Tesla)
Mars
Epic Quest
Excalibur
Earth Defense
Paranormal
PBFX 2 Core Pack - (Pasha, Biolab, Rome, Secrets Of The Deep)
Super League Football
Wild Rampage
Castlestorm Pinball table

Not to mention the tables that are on the 360 that didn't make it.

Agents
Speed Machine
Buccaneer
Extreme
Nightmare Mansion

So Zen definitely makes original (non franchised) tables and have more in the pipeline. Oh and since Zen has to be politically correct with their answers...I don't. I love TPA. What they do is incredible. HOWEVER, Zen makes all of their tables from scratch. Music, DMD, etc are all original from Zen. Even the franchised ones (have to get back to you on Star Wars though). FarSight have bought the license to the authentic tables from Williams, Bally, Stern, Gottlieb, etc and recreate the tables. So it's not really fair to compare them in that respect. Both pinball giants bring something fun and innovative to pinball gaming.

Oh and I know you've seen the other licensed tables like Star Wars, South Park, Walking Dead, Street Fighter, Ninja Gaiden, right? If you have a 360, Zen made an awesome table that is Ms. Splosion Man and Rocky & Bullwinkle. I know this was long. Haha

[Trynyty]

I have a PS4. Farsight has some amazing tables as well. I am just overwhelmed at the theme specific tables that ZP2 has. Very discouraging.

What would be nice, however, is for one of the two companies (I'm looking at you, Zen) to make live multiplayer that you can play with your friends online. Shouldn't be too hard:
1)Invite your friends
2)No lag issues because switching turns would rely on the actual playing person's speed.
3)Profit and a step ahead of the competition.

Edit: I'm an older gamer. I have no idea what half of those tables (Marvel/Comic Book) are about; hence, my reluctance to buy them. I do own EVERY single non-marvel/comic book table that Zen has made for the PS4.

[Alipan]

Zen do still make an original themed table here and there but it seems that they made a conscious decision a few years
back that licenced tables were the way forward.

I am not a Marvel fan either but some of the tables are quite good even if you have no feeling or knowledge for the characters.
The Blade table is probably my favourite Zen table and the rest on that pack are quite good as well.

Having said that I think only the most ardent marvel fans arent getting a bit bored of them now.

I don’t really object to licensed tables but I don’t really like that they are all seemingly aimed at the same demographic – marvel ,South Park, Walking Dead – it seems like variety but really it isnt, they all have that sort of American, comic book vibe.

Also just a hunch – I cant believe that Zen really wanted to do a Star Wars ‘Rebels’ table – I mean most people have never even heard of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if that one was ‘suggested’ to them…….

[BarbieBobomb]

The Rebels table was suggested to us by the community. A lot

We do have other IPs coming as well as more originals.

[DA5ID]

For myself I enjoy playing all the zen pinball tables because they are pinball! The themes (licensed IPs included) keep the tables interesting and varied. Do I enjoy playing the licensed tables with themes I already liked (star wars, south park, walking dead) -sure thing! But even the marvel tables that I know almost nothing about (moon knight, infinity gauntlet, fear itself, dr. strange) are really fun to play. My brother-in-law got into zen and also knew nothing about marvel - so he did a little internet digging and found it super interesting that the marvel universe is tied together by the overarching story of the infinity stones. Will we start buying comic books - probably not. Will we go see the new avengers movie - probably. Are we more geeky now that we can identify comic book characters -definitely. Thank you ZEN

[Trynyty]

Oh, not all the licensed tables are bad. I love the Walking Dead and South Park one. (except for the insane WD kickers)

I would like to say that whoever did the voiceover on the Earth Defense should never be allowed near a professional recording microphone again. "Save Me." "They're taking me away." both sound like an intern on Xanax was bribed with a free soda to say those two lines.

I wish that I could find a comparison to illustrate the horrific voice acting, but it was immensely immersion breaking. I wasn't convinced at all that someone needed saving. It sounded to me like something one of my gfs would say after we've been at the bar drinking for a good five hours and a hot guy/gal was taking her to their place. "Save Me." (wink wink, not really, just kidding, I want to be killed by this monster attacking Earth)

Then again, maybe they DO want to be killed. From now on, I will purposely let the monster kill them. Ugh, I can't, because after the monster nomnomnoms on their succulent bones, I have to hear the same voice on morphine say, "You didn't save me."

Ugh. The horror. The child voice would've been much better if done with the children from Sorcerer's Lair. Now THERE was some good acting.

[Eternal21]

I like Zen's Original tables much more than the franchise based ones. Sorcerer's Lair, Epic Quest, El Dorado etc. I'd much rather play those than dozens of Star Wars tables. That's not to say that I don't like licensed tables. Avengers: Assemble was one of the first tables I completed, and it's still one of my favorites.

[Trynyty]

I actually bought the Avengers Assemble table... I think. I played it once before I realized that I don't know what the heck is going on. Isn't that the one that the players choose the hero balls from the launcher?

[DA5ID]

I actually bought the Avengers Assemble table... I think. I played it once before I realized that I don't know what the heck is going on. Isn't that the one that the players choose the hero balls from the launcher?

Much more fun if you know what's going on. For any table read the in game guide, play a few games, and then read the in depth table guides by shoryukentothechin

http://forum.zenstudios.com/showthre...l-Table-Guides

[Eternal21]

I actually bought the Avengers Assemble table... I think. I played it once before I realized that I don't know what the heck is going on. Isn't that the one that the players choose the hero balls from the launcher?

If you're on PS4/PS3/Vita, and want to earn the trophies, you can check my guide here:

http://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/the-avengers-chronicles/242810-avengers-trophy-guide.html

Also here's a list of all trophy guides for every single Zen 2 table:

http://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/zen-pinball-2-a/242226-zen-pinball-2-trophy-guide-directory.html

[DA5ID]

If you're on PS4/PS3/Vita, and want to earn the trophies, you can check my guide here:

http://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/the-avengers-chronicles/242810-avengers-trophy-guide.html

Also here's a list of all trophy guides for every single Zen 2 table:
http://www.playstationtrophies.org/f...directory.html

These are great thank-you - bookmarked!!!

[hunter328]

Oh, not all the licensed tables are bad. I love the Walking Dead and South Park one. (except for the insane WD kickers)

I would like to say that whoever did the voiceover on the Earth Defense should never be allowed near a professional recording microphone again. "Save Me." "They're taking me away." both sound like an intern on Xanax was bribed with a free soda to say those two lines.

I wish that I could find a comparison to illustrate the horrific voice acting, but it was immensely immersion breaking. I wasn't convinced at all that someone needed saving. It sounded to me like something one of my gfs would say after we've been at the bar drinking for a good five hours and a hot guy/gal was taking her to their place. "Save Me." (wink wink, not really, just kidding, I want to be killed by this monster attacking Earth)

Then again, maybe they DO want to be killed. From now on, I will purposely let the monster kill them. Ugh, I can't, because after the monster nomnomnoms on their succulent bones, I have to hear the same voice on morphine say, "You didn't save me."

Ugh. The horror. The child voice would've been much better if done with the children from Sorcerer's Lair. Now THERE was some good acting.

I think it captures the feel of the campy sci-fi B-movies it imitates where cheesy dialog and bad acting were often the norm.