Greetings PlayStation fans and pinball lovers of all ages!
My name is Josh Hart and I am an Assistant Producer and Designer for the soon-to-be-released game Pinball Heroes. Our game will be available in Europe from the end of February exclusively from PlayStation Store for your PSP.
Pinball Heroes is a total of 4 pinball tables based on some great Sony Computer Entertainment games. We’ve got tables featuring Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Everybody’s Golf, High Velocity Bowling and Pain!
The tables will be available both separately (at the price of €2.99 each) and as a bundle: the Pinball Heroes collection pack featuring all 4 tables together for €9.99.
Each table is unique and fun in its own way. Be sure to check out our trailer along with some individual table descriptions below…
This pinball table is based on the first Uncharted game, where players were initially introduced to Nathan Drake. It has a traditional pinball feel, featuring numerous modes corresponding to chapters in the Uncharted video game. Shoot for the “Coffin Entrance” to begin an adventure mode and then follow the directions to complete each part of Nathan’s quest. Some of the features of this table include multiball, treasure collection, idol sightings, cursed objects, bandit shoot, exploding grenades, and a final battle mode when all 7 adventures have been completed!
This unique table simulates 9 holes of Everybody’s Golf. First off, you’ll have to shoot straight at the yardage markers until you have accumulated enough yards to reach the putting green. If the wind is in your favor, you can get bonus yards! But watch out, since it could just as easily send your ball into a sand trap increasing your strokes and reducing your chance to make par… Once on the green, you can activate a Homing Shot or just go for the cup. Additional features include building up your loyalty hearts, equipment and power shots, all of which increase your yardage with every shot!
The High Velocity Bowling table showcases a traditional ten-pin layout and keeps track of your strikes and spares over 10 frames. You start bowling by knocking down the sweeper, which is in front of the pins. Hook shots make it easier to hit the headpin and are activated by entering the hook tunnel. The High Velocity Bowling table also includes ball savers, spin shots, Jumpin’ Joes super jets and the cherry bonus. Good luck getting that perfect game!
Our fourth table is inspired by the Downtown setting from Pain. It references Pain’s humor with numerous voices such as Jarvis, the Monkey, the Mime and the Construction Worker. Game features like Fun With Explosives, the Ooch and PAINdemonium make appearances as well. Hitting the Manhole can activate multiball and you can maximize the 3 ramp shots to get a truly high score!
All Tables Feature
- Horizontal or Vertical play
- Numerous In-game Awards
- Online Leaderboards!
If you’ve stuck with me this far, then I thank you. Personally, I think that pinball is great for a handheld, portable game. I’d like to take this opportunity to explain some of our goals while creating Pinball Heroes. We wanted it to be fast and appeal to hardcore players as well as casual players. To that end, the gameplay can be frantic, but we were generous with the “tilt” functionality, giving the player more control over the game then what is typical in physical, real world pinball. Each table had to accurately represent its source material and do justice to the original games. For that, we got access to the assets from the hit games and tried to think of how to emulate some of the fun from them in pinball form. I think that we accomplished our goals and I am very proud of our team here. Hopefully, you will all try it out and feel the same way!
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Josh Hart and the rest of the Pinball Heroes Team
P.S. We’ve got more tables planned, so stay tuned…
22 CommentsAdd Yours
1
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 1:04 pm by Falcon1991
Looks fun.
I like the Uncharted table.
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 7:37 pm by Josh Hart
Thanks Falcon1991 !
The Uncharted table is a great way to get started in Pinball Heroes. Afterwards, if you like it (which I certainly hope that you will) then you can buy the other tables that interest you (hopefully all of them).
Of course, it is cheaper to get the bundle…
2
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 1:22 pm by Danlisa
Ooo, I like that idea. Great decision to take PS3 games and make themed tables from them.
Added to my ‘want’ list.
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 7:40 pm by Josh Hart
That’s great to hear! One of the cool things that we’ve encountered with our release in the US, is that each of the tables is someone’s favorite. It is hard to find one table that really stands out as the “people’s choice.” I hope that you get the chance to play them all!
Thanks again, Danlisa and don’t forget to tell your friends!
3
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 1:29 pm by almighty-slayer
Sounds good
How much will it be in £?
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 7:43 pm by Josh Hart
I apologize for not having the answer to your question at this time. I am personally unfamiliar with the purchasing system on the European PSN. I will try to ask the right people and get an answer for you soon, almighty-slayer. Unfortunately, this may not happen until Tuesday the 19th since Monday is a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr. here in the US.
But if you check back, I hope to have an answer for you. We appreciate your interest!
4
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 1:35 pm by Carnivius_Prime
At first I was gonna pass when I read the topic cos I was happy with Zen Pinball but then I read this one is for PSP so I took a look cos I’m always up for more portable pinball games. Especially ones with a table themed around my most favorite game series of all time (I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a total Uncharted fanboy). Will check it out for sure.
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 7:47 pm by Josh Hart
That’s fantastic! I don’t think that you will be disappointed in the least, Carnivus_Prime. In fact, I suspect that after playing the Uncharted table you will want to buy the others. Have fun and don’t forget to look at the table’s instructions and in-game goals and awards!
5
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 1:35 pm by AoNekoAmaru
Looking forward to these. ;3
Will it still be possible to control the flippers when the PSP Go screen is closed (I can live without access to the tilt function in that case)?
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 7:52 pm by Josh Hart
Good question, AoNekoAmaru! Yes, you can still control the flippers with the triggers, but you are unable to tilt if the PSP Go is closed. However, there are in-game goals for certain scores earned without using the tilt function. I like to play with the screen shut when I am attempting those goals since there is no possibility of tilting. When I play with the Go open, I use the nudge/tilt ability so much that it is a habit.
6
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 1:57 pm by mlataupe
Nice… that’s the kind of game I want on my PSP.
Easy to pick up and play and have fun with.
You nailed the pricing as well.
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:10 pm by Josh Hart
I really do think that this is a great portable game, mlataupe. Once you get good at a table, you may be able to play it for a long time, but hey, that’s what the sleep mode on the PSP is for! Put it to sleep and come back to the game later to continue your high score. Whatever you do, don’t forget to post your scores online!
7
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 2:00 pm by herotoozero
wow, another pinball game
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:17 pm by Josh Hart
Hi herotoozero!
I hope that you are able to give our game a shot. I think that it is really fun and affordable. Thanks for commenting.
8
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 2:03 pm by heathengray
No Portrait Orientation? I think Pinball Fantasies spoiled us in that respect – it should be a requirement of all pinball games.
That seriously is the one thing preventing me from getting another Pinball game – it’s silly, but it makes it all the more playable.
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:21 pm by Josh Hart
Greetings, heathengray. I see your comment below and hope that you will now be able to get our pinball game! For everyone else, the game may be played vertically or horizontally. Cheers!
9
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 2:28 pm by iapetus
@8: “All Tables Feature
* Horizontal or Vertical play”
Isn’t this what you mean?
If so:
“Thanks for reading!”
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:26 pm by Josh Hart
Exactly correct, iapetus. My office mate prefers to play vertically, but I prefer horizontal. It’s all up to the player and is easily changed by pressing the select button on your PSP or PSP Go.
10
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 2:55 pm by X201
You wait ages for a pinball game on PSP, then two come along at the same time. (Williams Pinball Classics is also pencilled in for the end of Feb)
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:31 pm by Josh Hart
That’s some good pinball nirvana if you’re a fan, though! Plus, look at it this way, you will have access to the Williams tables that you know and love as well as the 4 brand new tables available in Pinball Heroes! Thanks for the comment, X201.
11
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 3:03 pm by GhostViper
This looks great. Can’t wait for this. Will there be more pinballboards in the future?
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:33 pm by Josh Hart
Thanks for the excitement, GhostViper! There will absolutely be more pinball tables available in the future. Just how many will depend on user demand.
12
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 3:29 pm by Carnivius_Prime
Can recommend the old Amiga classics Pinball Fantasies and Pinball Dreams which are PSP Mini’s to those who haven’t played them already. Old but still highly playable.
Was just gonna get the Uncharted table but the more I look at the others I can see myself buying the bundle. And yeah I do like playing PSP pinball games in portrait view. Seems right somehow.
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:41 pm by Josh Hart
Get all the pinball you can! I recommend the bundle since it is cheaper and I think that all of the tables are fun and different. Of course, I’m a little bit biased…
Don’t forget to alter your view using the select button.
13
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 3:35 pm by MaxiM_82
Old-chool 2D pinball action – sign me in! Although it’s a poor choice of themes aside from Uncharted. I’d like to see MGS and LBP themed tables, but I guess it’s possible that they will show up one day as a downloadable content.
Now where’s my Williams Painball Classics?! It was announced months ago for PSN!
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:43 pm by Josh Hart
“Williams PAINball?”
hehehehe
Someone seems subliminally interested in the PAIN table! Metal Gear Solid and LittleBigPlanet would be awesome in pinball form, wouldn’t they? We have additional tables planned, so keep on the lookout, MaxiM_82.
14
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 3:38 pm by Ragnarok-NZ
Are there any plans to have more pinball-machines in the future, in the form of DLC?
Perhaps an ape-escape themed machine, or Resistance/Killzone machine?
That’d be pretty sweet
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:45 pm by Josh Hart
You bet, Ragnarok-NZ. We will announce the other pinball tables when they are closer to being released. Thanks for the interest!
15
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 4:36 pm by X201
@MaxiM_82
I asked Mike yesterday, he said its looking like the end of Feb, but nothing definite.
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:49 pm by Josh Hart
Sounds like you will be able to get all the pinball that you could ask for! I hope to see you guys on our leaderboards.
16
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 4:37 pm by X201
@MaxiM_82 Williams I mean , not the DLC
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:52 pm by Josh Hart
Well, I’m on a hot streak with the replies here, so it would be a shame to skip this one. But I don’t really have anything to add…
uh…
how about this: Good job clarifying your earlier post, X201!
heheheh
17
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 4:54 pm by heathengray
@iapetus
Exactly what I meant, I only watched the video… but I guess Vertical mode doesn’t look that great on the Go
Cheers
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:56 pm by Josh Hart
Hello again, heathengray! Vertical mode on the PSP Go is a little awkward with the screen open, but it is certainly do-able. I hope that you enjoy our tables.
18
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 6:41 pm by Helvedeshunden
Hope there’s a demo. What’s true with other games is even more true with pinball games: No good demo = no sale
Posted on 15 January, 2010 at 8:58 pm by Josh Hart
I am very sorry to disappoint you Helvedeshunden, but there is no demo as of this time. I offer my honest opinion that the game is fun and worth a shot even if you decide to just buy one table to check it out.
Thanks for the input.
19
Posted on 16 January, 2010 at 12:43 am by djax-djax
I love pinball games! Its great, that Pinball Heroes will be finally avaliable outside US! Thanks!
Posted on 19 January, 2010 at 7:05 pm by Josh Hart
You are very welcome, djax-djax! I hope that you enjoy the games as much as we do!
20
Posted on 16 January, 2010 at 7:48 pm by almighty-slayer
No problem Josh! No need to apologise
Posted on 19 January, 2010 at 7:09 pm by Josh Hart
Thank you for your patience and understanding, almighty-slayer. The price in pounds for Pinball Heroes is 6.29 for the bundle or 2.39 for each individual table.
21
Posted on 18 January, 2010 at 10:09 am by X201
@Josh
You have earned the “Reply Run Trophy – Reply to each of 18 consecutive blog comments to earn this trophy”
Posted on 19 January, 2010 at 7:11 pm by Josh Hart
Sweet! Where do I pick it up?
heheheh
22
Posted on 31 January, 2010 at 9:54 pm by wellloved1
i just love the pinball games,just downloaded my third one to my psp,extreme pinball and am looking forwards to trying out pinball heroes but what would be fantastic for the psp and even ps3 would be the old mega drive pinball game,psycho pinball,one of the best ever pinball games
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