Products Manager
Overview
The AtGames Legends Pinball 4KP is a digital pinball console allowing users to play hundreds of fully licensed digital pinball tables all on just a singular pinball machine. This was the 4K version and next iteration of the commercially successful AtGames Legends Pinball and AtGames Legends Ultimate devices.
Along with simply just a more powerful processor and higher resolution monitors came brand new features including an entirely new Linux based operating system capable of also running Android as well, a new partnership with Zen Studios™ to bring their amazing 4K digital pinball library and licenses to players, a third screen digital matrix display, and more.
Key Components
Marketing
Website
Developer Portal
Online Leaderboards
Online Multiplayer (Local & Server)
Major Hurdles
Similar to other gaming consoles, when making the jump to the next generation of a system users need enough reasons to purchase another device. With the case of the Legends Pinball 4KP devices the hardware was a great selling point however only upscaling already available games was now enough and creating or licensing even bigger name brand titles was pivotal to the success of the product. This coupled with an entire rework from the ground up on the operating system along with the server side for online features quickly added onto the development time.
Problem #1
All of the pinball tables that were available on the previous console generation would be remastered to be supported and fresh on the Legends Pinball 4KP. This required a great deal of effort to not only get over 150+ tables running properly with higher resolutions and three screen displays, but to have enough punch for players to want to repurchase a game they may have already owned on the previous console version.
Solution
Heavily test and analyze pinball tables to the smallest details in order to ensure the 4K version performed better, visually improved in fidelity and saturation, and felt leagues above 720p versions.
Used AI tools to increase resolution on table aprons to make text pop that was previously illegible.
Included surround sound feedback for all pinball tables adding an addition level of realism.
Problem #2
Including Enough Features to Upgrade
Major console systems are mainly in a hardware race in order to be able to keep up with the increasing graphical fidelity of AAA games. In the case of the Legends Pinball 4KP there needed to be an even greater push than hardware only as the price point of a pinball machine is much higher than a compact gaming console. We needed to be sure users had no doubt that this was indeed a generational jump in the product that was worthwhile.
Solution
Included three screen support for all games: main playfield, back glass, and dot matrix display.
Surround sound feedback hardware option made available and functions with all games in order to provide immersive audio that makes the digital pinball table look, feel, and sound just like a mechanical table alongside the haptic feedback.
Built a partnership with Zen Studios™ to bring on their massive library of major IP digital pinball tables along with Rare™ allowing us to create brand new tables based on their amazing games.
Problem #3
Rebuilding From the Ground Up
The original digital pinball console was successful, there was a lot of clean-up to be done on the system, servers, admin backend, and website in particular. Though more time consuming, it was better to reset with the new generation console and future proof with the lessons learned after a few years of building the original console.
Solution
I created brand new design docs for nearly all features of the system, thoroughly mapping out in meticulous detail all requirements, wireframes, and logic.
Shutdown all excess servers and build new APIs that could eventually convert the older consoles onto the new formats as well to create a fully unified environment.
Created a much cleaner UI/UX and more robust tools on the admin portal to allow members from all teams to be able to more easily access game data, user data, creating marketing events, and more.
Greatest Successes
Some of my favorite experiences in bringing the iiRcade™ to launch and long into post release were centered around the community and product itself. The times leading up to launch and well on through were filled with a rollercoaster of ups and downs even with proper planning and risk assessment.
Creating a community of 50,000+ players in an initially niche market.
Designing and implementing online multiplayer gameplay for classic arcade games.
And without a doubt my personal favorite… Creating and successfully launching a gaming console platform with an amazing team of people!