Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZlvI2zpVTQ
Well thanks to VSPHoenix UK or more notably Kelvin and Alan I was given the opportunity to try out a VSPhoenix S soft tip machine in my own home! Yes that's right, they transported a machine from London to my home and installed it so I could do this review, how awesome is that! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
I had the machine for just over 24 hours and I think I am having withdrawal symptoms now, it is just simple amazingly good fun and incredibly addictive!
I'm in the middle of decorating so I apologize about the walls in the pics Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Ok I will just like to talk a little about the machine itself first.
The actual machine comes in various parts that are fixed together quite easily. There is the 2 main parts, the base and the top with the dartboard, then there is an optional monitor for the top and also a kind of platform for the front.
Normally an oche platform is attached which also has led lights running along the length but that was a little too much to fit in the vehicle they hired for the trip up North so we had just the mat which stayed very stable and never ruffled to my surprise!
As you can see from the pics it was almost touching the ceiling, the full height when the top monitor is attached is about 8ft 3" The weight of the machine when fully assembled is around 109kg. But its quite a slim sleek design overall and is only about 2ft 4" wide and about 2 foot deep at its biggest.
As well as the monitor on top there is also the main monitor in the middle.
There is a camera located at the top for use in online play. The machine has some speakers just below the camera and a bigger speaker in the base. It has lights either side of the dartboard and as you can see in the pics led lighting around the case and at the front which changes colours and can also represent the players colour when throwing. The numbers around the board also light up when you hit that segment.
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The large round light in the base is where the rfid card senor is located, this is used to recognise your pass card when you place it near.
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Shown below is the arrow buttons fro navigating around the menu options and the green and red buttons for cancelling and entering choices etc, you can see more in the video review above on how it works.
Above the buttons is the ratings chart which tells you the ranking class for the various stats in 01 and Cricket. This is a handy chart to have as when your playing online you can use it to reference the skill of the other player but basically it starts from C,B,A, Master and Grand Master which will be the Phil Taylor level Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
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The main options screen showing the main categories to choose from, you can see this in more detail above in the video review and also the games available to play:
The main options screen showing the main categories to choose from, you can see this in more detail above in the video review and also the games available to play:
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Some shots of the board:
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Rocky had a total disregard about the request to not stand in front of the thrower, as far as he was concerned the mat was his!
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Myself and Rocky with Kelvin and Alan, two very nice guys Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
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Using the machine is incredibly easy and it is recommended you get a pass card if you do go to play on one. The pass cards are free in UK and it allows you access to the Phoenix site where it records all the stats as you play. I made a little section about this in the video above but when you get the card scan it on the machines card reader or your smartphone by scanning the QR code. You can download the Phoenix dart app and register using that or online on your PC. You just register your info and then add the card number for it to be active and start recording your stats.
You can view all the info on you smartphone using the app or online on the Phoenix site and it records a wealth of information, it is quite impressive how much data it records, I would advise seeing the video for a run through but it records all your progress and give you ratings and keeps track of how your doing from day to day, week to week etc and has info on how many ton+ scores you hit, single bulls, double bulls and on and on!
I was really impressed with the site and how easy it is to check the info and also how incredibly detailed it all is, it just adds another element of addiction as I am sure people will want to keep improving their stats.
As well as the stats you can also change things like your background image and upload a pic for your card ID and you can search for local store too. There is also an item shop where you can purchase new sounds, images, animations and I believe you pay for it using gold that you win from games, but not sure if you can purchase gold too or pay with credits, like I said I only had a short time with it so never got long enough to explore everything but I am sure someone will answer anything I have not quite got right Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
When you come to play a game on the machine you have a vast amount of options for 01 and Cricket as well as various fun games to play and practice games too. Again I have shown most of these in the video above but the options quite vast but all are explained with instructions on the screen as to what they are and how to play.
With most of the 01 games it was a case of just getting to a total without busting, you don't need to finish on a double. If you prefer to play the Double Out rule it is still available though. Just try the Pro mode. But you have the option of 301, 501 right up to 1501 and then you can have 1 player against the robot and have many levels of robot skill to pick or you can play 2 player, doubles, teams and more!
Each game has a credit value and 1 credit is 50p. So for a game like 301 it may be 1 credit but a game of 1501 will be more credits as the game is likely to last longer. I think for us people in the U.K. paying to play is going to be our biggest bugbear but I guarantee it is worth it and if you have a few friends with you it will not be overly expensive and the reward you have from the fun in playing is well worth the price.
We had a huge amount of fun playing the fun games on this system and also the practice games. My favourite was the VS Archery. It shows a graphic like an Archery target and the board is represented as that. So hitting closer to the bull scores higher than the outer edges. What made this game so addictive and fun was the animation and sound effects, it would produce a twang sound when your dart hit the board and a little hole on the target. It was a lot of fun as well as helping you to improve your Bulls hitting Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
I really don't think I can get across how fun and addictive the whole experience is, compared to a home soft tip board playing on a professional machine is just levels ahead and once you get into it your quickly hooked! The audio and visual enhancements the machine brings adds a whole level of extra enjoyment and I think if I was playing it in a bar or somewhere with other machines and people playing it would be an even better experience still. I keep going in the room where the machine was and wishing it was still there, I played on it far too long and my arm certainly suffered, its still sore now lol Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
I loved the online experience though, playing against people from other countries and seeing them in the screen was a new experience and that wowed me a lot. I played 16 online games, won 8 and lost 8 lol I played guys in Korea, Japan, Malayasia and China. I even scored a 180 in one online match but I almost lost it, thankfully I got that one on camera and it is in the video above Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
One thing I really like about this soft tip craze and these machines in particular is that you can be any level of skill yet there is so much fun for you to be had. Everyone who tried it at my house kept saying "one more go!" it was tough to get people to leave so I could get on with the review! But outright darts novices can play these machines and get a lot out of it and you can play with your mates just for fun but if you want to start taking it more seriously then that option is still there.
I really hope these machines take off in the U.K. it would be great to be able to play more U.K. players on line, we could even make a Darts Nutz club and have our own group on there Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
If you get a chance to try these out then do it, you will be glad you did! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.