Pinball Arcade Preview for XBLA, PSN, and PS Vita

We were recently contacted by the fine folks over at FarSight Studios in an effort to get the word out about their upcoming, highly anticipated video game pinball release, The Pinball Arcade. iOS and Android users have already had a bit of time with the compilation and platform for digital Pinball tables, but an upcoming release is on the horizon for Xbox Live Arcade, PSN, and the Playstation Vita. So this seems like a good time to bust out some more info about the upcoming releases, including prices and what you can expect from future DLC.

FarSight Studios has been behind the releases for both the Bally?s and Williams Pinball Collections that have made their way over to a number of platforms over the past couple years. Their releases have been given pretty high praise when it comes to their digital representations of real world tables, with outstanding physics models in place that really nail the look and feel of actual pinball.

Now they?re adopting a digital release model that will allow them to continue creating real world tables, offering up four initial tables and then releasing more fan favorites down the line. The first four tables consist of Tales of the Arabian Nights, Ripley?s Believe It or Not, Theatre of Magic, and Black Hole. The initial pack will cost 800 points on Xbox Live Arcade, or $9.99 on PSN and Playstation Vita. As an added bonus for both PS3 and Vita owners, purchasing the game via PSN will give you access to both versions of the game.

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After the initial release, FarSight plans to update the service monthly, with additional tables like Monster Bash, Medieval Madness, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Funhouse, Attack from Mars, Black Knight, Space Shuttle, Pin-Bot, Circus Voltaire, Big Shot, and many more. There are also plans to offer online tournaments, and additional modes to compete against friends.

Announced DLC, following the first four tables, will be Medieval Madness, and The Machine: Bride of Pin-Bot.

There?s more information we?ll include below that details some of the features, physics systems, and planned modes, straight from the fact sheet we received from FarSight. No official release date has been announced just yet, but from what we understand it should be coming soon, and we?ll be sure to update you when we find out! For now feast your eyes on some gorgeous screens to help tide you over.

REAL PINBALL FOR YOUR…

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PS Vita!

Description

FarSight Studios is set to release the most accurate and comprehensive pinball videogame ever created!  Over the next few years, the Pinball Arcade will release an expansive library of the greatest tables of all time originally manufactured by Bally, Gottlieb, Stern, Data East, Sega and Williams.

The four launch tables are Tales of the Arabian Nights, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Theatre of Magic, and Black Hole.  All of these tables can be downloaded for free with limited trial versions.

The launch pack of tables will cost 800 points on Xbox360 on XBLA.  On PSN, players only need to buy the game once!  $9.99 will buy the launch pack allowing players to own the game on both PlayStation 3 and PS Vita with just one transaction.

Each month, regular updates will add classics like Monster Bash, Medieval Madness?, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Funhouse, Attack from Mars?, Black Knight, Space Shuttle, Pin?Bot, Circus Voltaire, Big Shot?, (and many others for years to come!) along with online tournaments and additional modes to challenge yourself and compete against your friends.

Features

• All  tables are recreated and played in stunning 3D, presented as photo-realistically as possible with real time reflections and lighting.
• The most advanced pinball physics engine ever developed.
• The gameplay, visuals and sound effects are all authentic.
• Online head-to-head, tournaments, and challenge modes to be added once enough tables have been released.
• A deep unlockable system of challenging goals that requires many hours to master and complete.
• In-depth tutorials of each table that teach players the most important rules and skills needed to beat all the goals and become a Pinball Wizard.
• Features FarSight?s 3^rd generation pinball physics engine ? the first pinball game with authentic tournament flipper physics.
• ROM Emulation ?  Most of the Pinball Arcade tables feature ROM emulation which emulates the actual code used on the real tables, complete with authentic dotmation displays and 100% accurate rules and table lights.
• Amazing graphics including HDR lighting, specular maps, real-time environment reflections, and bloom effects.
• Exciting lineup of tables including ancillary licenses and many of the top pinball tables of all time!

 Launch Table Details:

Tales of the Arabian Nights (1996): This John Popadiuk-designed masterpiece brings to life some of the most memorable tales of One Thousand And One Nights as told by the Persian Queen Scheherazade. The setting is ancient Baghdad where wishes can be granted in the ultimate battle to rescue the Princess from the clutches of an evil Genie who taunts all foes. There are jewels to be collected and a playfield that will have players spinning Aladdins Lamp, flying on Magic Carpet ramps or visiting the Bazaar for countless awards. With a deep set of rules, beautiful artwork, engaging voice over, and excellent sound effects, this is one of the most popular and highest rated tables of all time. 3128 units of this table were produced.

Ripleys Believe it or Not (2004): This is possibly the most complex table to come from legendary pinball designer Pat Lawlor (who also created Funhouse and Addams Family). It allows players to travel with Robert Ripley across seven continents to discover the strange, the bizarre, and the unusual! The goal was to make a pinball machine that appeals to the casual player as well as the expert, which is accomplished through a special feature aptly entitled “Believe it or Not.” This multi-level rule enables the beginning player to achieve some of the game’s goals early on and earn frequent multi-ball modes, while allowing the more advanced player to extend their opportunities through better play.

Black Hole (1981): This was the first table to feature the revolutionary lower-reversed playing surface. However, its biggest claim to fame is that it was the first accepted table that cost 50 cents to play, which quickly made it the highest earning pin game in the history of the industry. With its fast paced gameplay and unique feature set, this table is considered a classic that was ahead of its time. 8774 units of this table were produced.

Theatre of Magic (1995): Designed by John Popadiuk, this spellbinding theatre of pinball magic is one of the highest rated tables of all time and a favorite with pinball players both young and old. With a dazzling array of unique features, players will discover the wonders of The Magicians Trunk where balls can levitate and disappear, the powers of The Spirit Ring, a mysterious trap door leading to a haunted basement offering a host of surprises, and an amazing mirror that seems to be an impossible extension of the playfield in a quest to master 8 different mesmerizing illusions. 6,600 units of this table were produced.

First two DLC tables to be released about a month after launch:

Medieval Madness (1997):  One of the most highly acclaimed pinball machines of all time, the ?Reign of Payne? comes to life thanks to the design artistry of Brian Eddy and masterful game rules by Lyman Sheats Jr. Incorporating some wonderful humor within the game theme and overall game play, there?s something for everyone with a playfield that features damsels needing to be rescued from a dragon, peasants revolting, catapults to be launched to storm a fully animated castle that quivers and shakes once the drawbridge has been lowered. Add to this trolls that pop up from under the playfield and able assists from Merlin?s magic andthis is one pinball fit for a king (or even a queen). 4,016 units of this table were produced.

The Machine: Bride of Pin?Bot  (1991): From the inventive mind of Python Anghelo with able assistance from John Trudeau and software by Brian Eddy, this is the second in the very successful Pin?Bot trilogy of tables.  This time it?s Pin*Bot?s Bride who takes center stage with a dramatic transformation that always turns heads. From the opening skill shot the quest is to bring the Bride to life with a sequence of shots up the Shuttle Ramp to first give her speech, then sight, and a dazzling, heart beating grand finale with the chance to join the Billionaire?s Club?the largest single scoring feature in pinball history. Approximately 8,100 units of this table were produced.