Warrior Notes

[Foozkillah]

Hey Paul and Mark,

Great pickup matches last night at Brendan's!

I forgot to discuss the new Warrior tour table with you guys.

Nate Thomas from the Philly foos group recounted his experience with the first Warrior $500,000 tournament in Vegas in 2003.

Although the Warrior pics they are showing of the home model online show only 1 goalkeeper player, the original tournament was played with 3 player goalkeeper rods. Nate also said the balls felt a lot more like hard rubber padding and were actually a bit easier to catch, more forgiving on passing.

And the goal width is a full 1/4 inch narrower than a Tornado's. All shots from Tornados transferred over... although the feel was definitely different. Spray shots are definitely harder.

All men are counterbalanced - they only make one type of man, supposedly with the same width, but not beveled (which practically makes for slightly wider flat surface).

Snakes worked, although the acceleration was definitely different with the solid rods. More splits worked than out and out long shots. I guess they're going to change the ball, and perhaps stick with 1player goalkeepers like their home models.

I'm going to ask the owners of the Brass Ring to inquire if a Warrior coin-op will become available soon.

[JeffK]

They won't be making Warrior coin-ops anytime soon, from what I heard.

[foosguru]

Nothing compares to playin foos for fun! It was great both you and Mark showed up! I'm bringin' ear plugs next week

[Foozkillah]

Jeffk,

If that's true, then Brendan Flaherty would be going back on his word, especially those at the meeting in Atlanta with Mary announcing her switch to the new Warrior BECAUSE of Brendan's commitment to working with those who were carrying the organized foosball torch. They said they just needed time, this Kentucky to put the tables up and in players' homes and businesses, and to continue to support all the other vending concessions that furnish foosball.

There must be almost a thousand bar owners or entertainment vending operators that would not fall in with a home-model only table. There aren't enough poolhalls and other entertainment centers to get as many non-coin-op tables that they'd have to manage like pool rentals to replace the hundreds of bars and clubs with coin-ops.

If he doesn't, some enterprising group or groups can retrofit a home model to get a coin-op. I've already discussed this with a vending repair center we have in our light industrial park, and it might not be as elegant as Tornado's award-winning system, but it can be easily and reliably retrofitted. If the new table is non-coin-op, I'm sure some entrepreneur could cut and replace those insides... Rework the ramp to fall to one side and put a vending mechanism there... Probably add 2-300 bucks to the unit, but with a $4-500 new unit price tag, that's still competitive with ordering Tornado coin-ops, especially if as Brendan brags, it will be more if not as reliable and durable as a Tornado.

[JeffK]

There will eventually be coin-op Warrior tables, I'm sure... but not in the near future. That's all I was saying.

[Craig]

Just a note, this is the latest measurements comparing a 'Warrior' prototype to a Tornado on 'This Week in Foosbal' from Carlos. BTW, good job Carlos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuUQFidwFqU

And the goal width is a full 1/4 inch narrower than a Tornado's. All shots from Tornados transferred over... although the feel was definitely different. Spray shots are definitely harder.

As you stated Brian, the dimensions are the same except for a 3/16 difference in goal width. Tornado being 8" across and Warrior 7 13/16"

[Foozkillah]

Craig,

That would be such a help to goalkeepers!

I don't think aforwards' release points have to be altered. But at least they'll be forced to square or "7" their long shots better, instead of all these bullcrappie 3/4 slight sprays to the long, like wannabe rollover shooters keep practicing. Now they'll have to square off like all other shots.

And the inside shooting game becomes even more of a factor. The "pump" and "slide-split" shots might make a comeback!