Ill be sure to keep everyone updated as progress is made however this will be a lengthy project as I want to ensure it's done right! I figure the art and redesign are the easy obstacles, but the programming is going to take some time. Fortunately we can continue to update the ROM over and over and over until we have the game we want to keep so Id like to get a baseline done then we can begin working on the transformation!

Dude this sounds awesome. Can't wait to see pics when it's done or on its way.

Oh god Multiball so needs to announce "It's dangerous to go alone!"

this should be a fun little project =0)

Those System 3 games are bullet proof and suuuuuper easy to work on, good choice for a retheme.

How far are you planning to take it? Changing the rule set, DMD, etc. or do you just plan on changing the art?

Edit:  Read you are updating the ROM, very cool.  The biggest knock on Gladiators is the unbalanced scoring, so you're going to end up with a very, very cool machine when all is said and done.

Good Luck!

Very cool project! Looking forward to the finished table

While I'm not into pins as much as some of the other members, I'd definitely want to give a LoZ table a few dollars in quarters

Hope it goes well.

How cool is this. Can't wait to see it finished. 

Would you be able to take a picture of the entire table looking straight down at it? It would help me come up with more ideas.

Today I got my vectored prints of the playfield so we can start sketching the design!

Awesome!

Oh wow! If you can please document the process as well as you can, I will likely follow in your footsteps!

So Ive finally nailed down which hardware and language Im going to use to rewrite the rules etc. In light of that I have been messing with some mockups for the outershell. Most feedback seems to like the Black over the green as it looks more like the CIB.

What do you guys think? Black or Green? It will have gold rails regardless and Im still figuring out the artwork for the back glass.

Black. Looks sleeker and accents the play field better.

Black!

Definitely the black. Looks AMAZING.

I'd find some concept art for the back glass, though.

Something that evokes 80's fantasy art styles, with Link the doing the "I have the power!" pose with his sword in the air and Zelda hugging his leg.

Black.

i kinda like the green, but i think it really depends on what the inspiration for the art style is. when i see the green i think of the zelda 1 nes style art.

Ive decided that since this table typically has long games and the shots are relatively easy the best thing to would be just to make the gameplay very deep. Gladiators has 6 modes and a final beast slayer event. Im going to use the ABYSS shot on gladiators as the magic mirror to transition you to darkworld after a few shots where the music and lights will change, there will be different items to collect only in dark world and there will be a whole new set of modes. That means 12 modes. For those unfamiliar with pinball- modes are events that occur that typically help tell the story the machine is themed for. While I dont think I need to add every dungeon to the gameplay there are things that make the game as a whole(collecting the master sword, getting heart pieces etc). Ive already come up with some good ideas but Im interested in hearing what you guys can think of.

Ideally you would want to collect all items in light world, finish all the modes and then defeat agahnim-transition to dark world, collect all items, finish all modes and start the ganon fight( I would likely make this a very very difficult ordeal since beating a pinball machines overall objectives is usually no easy task)

I don't know what the table programming will interact with, but one option to add challenge would be to have your "heart containers" be a real health meter that if it runs out your flippers fail and you drain the ball...

That makes up for the easy shots and otherwise long play.

Like there are periodic battles with enemies that require you to make a certain number of specified shots within a time limit to avoid taking damage, otherwise you take damage continuously until you can make the shots.

My plated legs and lockdown bar arrived today! My side rails and back trim will arrive in the next few days. Ill need to find a coin door with no plastic to get plated as well that fits my machine. Ive decided on 12 modes for my gameplay-6 in light world and 6 in dark world!

Side rails and trim arrived.


So far my modes will be:
Light World:
Escaping the Castle with Zelda
The Pendants
The Master Sword
A Pot Smashing Round
a Heart Piece Collecting ROund
Agahnim

Darkworld:
Dungeon Mode( longest and deepest of the planned modes)
Flute-Duck Mode
Another Heart Piece Collecting Round
-
-
-Agahnim/Gannon

Still working on is. My programming has yielded a working DMD and now my table has music and sfx!

I'm going to steal this from you.

How am I just now seeing this!?

This is a fantastic idea!

Like I mentioned earlier, don't know what is possible with the programming and modes, but it might feel more Zelda-esque to have the heart containers work like scoring extra balls on other tables (though they don't necessarily have to BE extra balls in practice).


I know many tables will have 2 or 3 possible ways to get the extra ball bonus, for instance.
And "finding" a special target like that just sounds more like what heart container hunting in Zelda actually is rather than one extended "mode" that you have to progress through.