Here is the ‘official’ Planetary Pinball Supply Inc. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), updated regulary:
Have more questions for the FAQ? Great! Then ask them thru the “Customer Service” tab on the main page or click HERE – use MEDIEVAL MADNESS REMAKE QUESTION for Type of Request and we will try to answer all questions using the FAQ!
Q: What is the difference between MMR Limited Edition (LE) and MMR Standard (STD)
A: The Differences Are:
LIMITED EDITION (LE) STANDARD (STD)
Includes Shaker Motor Shaker Motor at optional Cost
Gold or Black or Silver Trim Silver Trim
Double Playfield Hard Coat Double Playfield Hard Coat (this was a change for STD)
Limited to 1000 Games Not Limited
Game # & Plaque No Game # or Plaque
Finished Backbox Edges Unfinished (as original) backbox Edges
Plywood Bottom (stronger more solid) Original MDF Bottom
Other(tbd) No Other(tbd)
Q: What type of Display will be used on the game?
A: The MMR (LE and STD) will ship with an LCD which will be similar size to the Plasma display that was original to the game. The LCD will be able to be set to any of a number of single colors (green, red, orange, blue, etc) for the entire display. A future upgrade expected sometime in 2014 would be an upgrade (expected to be software) that will provide ‘multi-color’ display frames.
Q: How will the Game be Similar -or- Different from the original Medieval Madness game?
A: The game is required per our WMS agreement to ‘look’ as well as ‘play’ the same as the original game. As such the game is going to have same playfield upper and lower mechanical components as well as cabinet/backbox as original game (using original prints, OEM parts, etc). What will be different is the Electronics Platform which will use a new Current Technology board set, which will be running the WMS game code. The new board set will incorporate LCD Graphics, Upgraded Sound, as well running on a new CPU/Controller board working as well as new Driver Board System. Additionally, the system will support native LED (no flicker) capability. The only difference is that for the remake we will not be including the WMS Logo’s (“W” Logo, Williams Logo), as well as there will be updated copyright wording on Translite, etc. We may also be including PPS logo on the translite to designate that it is the remake – much of this is per WMS requirements.
Q: Of the items which are ‘different’ due to WMS Logo Requirements, etc, would I be able to replace those with the ‘original’ WMS Logo replacment parts?
A: The game will not change in terms of accepting those parts – so things like translites, speaker panels, etc are relatively easy to replace with a replacement WMS part with WMS logo’s, etc. The side decals would be probably the item that is not easily ‘replaced’.
Q: Why not use the original WPC-95 boards?
A: Because while we want the game to look and feel original, we wanted to offer additional capabilities like upgraded sound and video, native LED support, as well as to offer software updates. In addition we wanted to work on improving the designs from the original board sets reducing faults (transister shorts, etc). Additionally, those designs are based on 15 year old technology and we are using many off the shelf components using modern technolgy, which will allow for better support, availability of spare parts, etc (many of the original WMS WPC-95 parts are no longer available or are not compliant with new standards ROHS, etc). Additionally, we are working on designs which will make it easier for the home user and the commercial user to have field replaceable units to repair any major failure points as opposed to having to do onsite board repairs, etc.
Q: What is the timeframe for release?
A: The MMR LE’s will be build in their entirety and then the MMR STD’s will be built. The MMR LE schedule is to start in Q2 2014 and ship until all 1000 are done which we are targetting for that ending in Q4, and then the MMR STD’s will be built starting in Q4 2014 and run until we exhaust orders, and then may schedule additional runs based on demand.
Q: What is the price of the MMR?
A: The price of the MMR LE and the MMR STD is $7995 FOB Chicago.
Q: What is the warranty on the game?
A: Warranty on the game is 1 Year (updated from 90 days) Electronics, 180 Days all major functional parts – common wear parts (rubbers, balls) are not covered under warranty. Warranty is valid only for customer of record (i.e. if original customer sells their game within the warranty period then the warranty is no longer in force).
Q: When and how do I have to pay?
A: There is a $1000 deposit required for the MMR that is placed with the distributor who then forwards that $1000 to PPS to constitute an ordered game. Deposits are refundable in the event for any reason the game is not produced. The MMR LE Deposit is refundable up thru the point at which WMS approves the game (expected end of 2013), at which point the procurement of parts for the game occurs. For the MMR STD, a deposit received will determine where in the production sequence the customer is to get their game (deposit received to PPS, which customers must request that any distributor insure that their deposit has been forwarded to PPS), as well as to insure that there is a valid order for the game. The customer is then reponsible to pay the balance due to the distributor for the game,1-2 weeks before the game is ready to ship.
Q: For the MMR LE, I have to choose between ‘Gold’ Trim and ‘Silver’ Trim – how can I see this to make the choice?
A: For the ‘Silver’ trim this is the same as what was on the original game (stainless steel lockdown bar, brushed steel side moulding, and brite zinc plated legs). The ‘Gold’ trim is being determined, and as soon as we have determined the exact finish of the similar components we will show people what they are and will allow people to change their trim selection based on seing the actual ‘gold’ finish items.
Q: How will the Shaker motor be implemented as the original game did not have a Shaker motor?
A: The shaker motor will shake the game for a duration and intensity based on various feature inputs from the game – the most obvious being the Castle explosion feature on the game. The shaker motor will be software controlled.
Q: Is the cabinet the same as original?
A: The cabginet should be the ‘same’ as original, as we are using the original cad files – so dimenstionally as well as where major nuts/bolts go should be the same. Chicago Gaming was in fact the original manufacturer of the WMS MM cabinets back in the 90’s so they are very familiar with building these cabinets.
Q: For the MMR LE’s how to Game #”s work?
A: For the MMR LE, there is a game # (from 1 to 1000) as well as a plaque indicating as such. The game # does not correlate to when the game was made, but it is a unique game # that can be chosen by the customer for an additional fee or will be designated close to build time and assigned to that customer. Game #’s can be requested for usually an additional fee, and if available will be assigned to that customer once confirmed.
Q: WIll the cabinet have decals or silkscreening?
A: The cabinets will have decals applied from the factory. These decals will be updated for MMR as we have scanned at high res a very nice MM cabinet (actually cut apart the game!), and that artwork is the basis for the MMR artwor, to make it as exact as possible to the original. Also cabinet decals enable easy replacement if needed over time due to wear and tear.
Q: Are all playfields, wireforms, plastics, etc, interchangeable between the original and the remake?
A: Most of the parts other than the electronics related parts are the same original WMS MM parts – so this would be the ‘above’ playfield parts, as well as the mechanical assemblies under the playfield. The playfield itself is the same playfield with the exception that there may be some different holes for mounting the electronics boards under the playfield, LEDs, etc.
