New trailer for RICK & MORTY (Season 4) is now available. New episodes start airing on May 3rd!

https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/new-rick-and-morty-season-4-trailer-announces-the-shows-return

Just FYI that there will be a LIVE STREAM of Rick & Morty tonight via Dead Flip/Jack Danger around 6pm Central: https://www.twitch.tv/deadflip

For those who didn't catch it, Jack Danger was able to hit the loop twice in a row AND then hit the garage shot, all within a few seconds! Those shots deserve some kind of ultra-super-combo bonus or something... lol. His reaction is also quite funny...

https://clips.twitch.tv/OpenAliveMeerkatBloodTrail

Yeah, I certainly don't remember the exact moment in his 4-hour+ stream but he went out of his way to explain how to fix those issues on both left side loops (seemed pretty easy) and like you said, it was basically about removing the MIDDLE SCREWS on both turns, I believe. He said that made the turns less like a "wall" when the ball hit it and allowed it to be more bendable as the ball flew through there.

I love SPOOKY as much as the next guy but this sort of thing always annoys me. To excuse issues on these machines because "everyone else also has issues with their machines" isn't the best way to improve matters in the longer term. If we were talking about cars, you're paying $10k for a car and you bring it home and you need to fix this/that yourself, not sure people would say "That's just the way it goes". We know that pinball machines are a "complex mess of electronics and shit" but so are a MILLION other consumer products out there. Stern keeps using shitty coil stops which break on every other machine, yet many people just say "Just replace them yourself, it takes 5 mins". It's not MY DUTY to change the coil stops and if you keep doing it yourself instead of insisting that STERN make changes....guess what, they will never make changes!

SPOOKY is far and beyond an amazing customer service company, so this is NOT directed at them as they seem to continue to make adjustments as they go and more importantly, they listen to their customers and even interact with them! (all very good) But that doesn't mean we shouldn't have the right to post issues with their machines in this thread, nor to bitch about such issues from time to time. Again, if we don't, than you are ENABLING these companies to keep doing things the way they're doing things and nothing will ever improve.

Completely disagree! A product is a product is a product. Whether you pay $0.10 for something or $1M, the fact is that any company producing any product has to produce the best product they can for their consumers (and if mistakes are made, listen to feedback, improve and grow from that feedback). Yes, pinball is a "boutique" industry but it also has a bunch of folks basically saying "It's cool if you guys send us products that are faulty, we can fix the smaller problems" HENCE why these companies continue to ship out products with faulty parts in them (because they're cheaper for them). Stop the enabling. We're paying a LOT OF MONEY for these products, you need to stand up and demand that they produce them properly, not make excuses for them. I work VERY HARD for that money. PS: Once again, I stress...this is NOT about SPOOKY! They are the one company that I see in pinball that does what I just stated above. Even if mistakes pop up in their machines, they LISTEN and ADJUST and SHIP out better product. Unlike some others.

I got my build sheet earlier this week and I'm #284, if anyone cares. I noticed that they're already up to 300 or there-abouts, so MAJOR KUDOS to Spooky for continuing to bang them out during the pandemic. Very impressive. I might be the only person in Montreal with the game, woo-hoo! Party at my pla-- oh, yeah never mind. But this will definitely make for an awesome Halloween/Christmas at my place (for myself) -- which is ironic since I literally ordered the game around last Christmas...as a X-Mas present for myself!! lol

This might have been asked before but it feels like every time I check into this thread, someone is mentioning how the "bass is too loud" which leads to "rattling the glass", and then we have others telling them to lower the bass or put some tape on the glass. Any reason why Spooky isn't doing this at the factory? I mean, why are they putting the bass too high, especially if the music is part of the game's core strengths? Seems like an odd thing to overlook, especially when post after post is complaining about it.

I just received my R&M #284 in Montreal, Canada! Thanks Spooky. Seems okay so far, some small issues, that others have mentioned.

1) Fan is waaaaay too loud. I actually set the game up in my office, so I can hear that sh*t all day. That said, I've already purchased the "quiet fan" so hopefully once I make the switch, that resolves that. And unlike the Stern loud fans, this one doesn't take any breaks....

2) Any way to stop the TOPPER from going on every few mins, even when not playing? (i.e. in attract mode)

3) The only real "game issue" I've noticed so far is the "rattling metal sounds" I'm hearing during the game. It feeeels like it's coming from inside the speaker actually, not the glass per se-- although the glass is also rattling a little. Anyone have any ideas on how to help me with that? I've already lowered the overall music volume (and bass) but can still hear the "metal sounds" when the game is playing hard.

4) Oh and the LCD screen is not as black as I was expecting. Any way to fix that, increasing the blackness tint or something?

Thanks in advance!

Newbie owner here, I wanted to set the machine to PLAY MUSIC during ATTRACT MODE to at least cover the sound of that very loud annoying fan (which I will be replacing with the "quiet" fan at some point, thank God!) but I've put the PLAY MUSIC ON ATTRACT MODE to "on" and it doesn't really work. It plays music for literally 5 seconds but then stops. What am I missing?

Yeah but they only play every 10 mins or so. I was looking for music to play throughout the attract mode, but it stops after 5 seconds. I guess it's another bug, not sure. I just wanna block the sound of the fan at this point.

Seems like everyone has preferences for HOW the dimensions are to show up. I think most "home players" would like to have the OPTION of random dimensions. Not sure how hard it would be to add that option to the SETTINGS menu but why not just do that and allow home players to set their games up as they wish -- as opposed to forcing them to play a certain way that is mostly set up for top-end & tournament players? Just seems like the OPTION would allow everyone to be happy.

Agreed. I received my #284 last week and have probably played around 100 games so far, hit the left orbit garage shot (from top right flipper), maybe 10 times in all. Just doesn't seem to connect. I thought I just sucked but I guess I have to get someone to take a looksie and fix it up a little.

Can you elaborate on this? I don't understand what EOS switches means, I'm not a techie but I've had #284 for over a week now (love it, btw!) and can't hit that left ramp shot for my life! I adjusted the "milliseconds" in the SETTINGS menu under "right flipper power" but that didn't seem to do much. What EXACTLY would need to be done to the right flipper in order to get that left ramp shot more readily? Thanks in advance!!

Can anyone help me with the right bottom flipper? I got the game 2 weeks ago but almost NEVER hit the left ramp all the way up. I tried to adjust the "milliseconds" in the SETTINGS (whatever that means) but not much difference. It literally doesn't feel like the ball will ever make it up, any advice? (ps: I'm NOT a techie, so you'd have to walk me through any things to "fix" since I don't understand any of that stuff) Feels like the game isn't complete until I can set up that shot properly and the right-top-flipper garage shot (but I have a friend coming by to adjust that flipper a little).

I appreciate you trying to help but I don't know what an EOS switch is, or where to find or whether to know if it's "engaging too soon" or what a leaf switch is. I'm basically a guy who just bought a new car but has no idea how it works or how to fix it, which is probably the difference between some owners in this thread being somewhat miffed at all the stuff they need to fix and those who understand how pins work and how to fix them. It's kinda frustrating for us newbies. Usually you're not asked to work on your engine after you purchase a $10k car, but alas, I love Spooky and wanna support them but this can get frustrating. I think some people in this thread need to be a little more patient with newbies like myself. We're not all techies. I just bought the game because I love playing pinball and loooooove Rick & Morty.

Thanks for these suggestions! I think I can manage to see about these issues myself, will advise and thanks for all the different ideas.

When the call-out says "Shoot for the car!", they are referring to the ball lock, i.e. the spaceship, correct?

Originally I thought it was the GARAGE (car, garage) but it's the ball lock, right? (just wanna be 100% sure)

Maybe I'm not on the right page, but when I go to update the code from Spooky's GAME SUPPORT page (https://www.spookypinball.com/game-support/), I don't see any specific instructions on WHAT TO DO and/or HOW TO DO IT.

What I mean by that is, it doesn't say "To update your code, make sure to click on the CODE UPDATE link under the image on the left. Once downloaded, move the .pkg file to a USB key (and any other instructions required once on the key - for example, with Stern updates, you need to UNZIP the files and then upload the unzipped files to your key only). I assume we just have to move the .pkg file to USB key on its own, then stick the key into the USB slot behind the R&M translite, I assume? Shut the pin off before we do so? Then once done, we'll see something on the screen that says "Update complete" or something? Then we should shut the pin, remove the USB and then re-boot?

Most of what I'm writing above is "assumed" because I've done Stern updates, but I feel for those people who have never done a code update is that's the page they land on. Not very user-friendly.

Love all you do at Spooky but I would politely request a better EXPLANATION of what one needs to do in order to update their machine's code ON the GAME SUPPORT page (not here on Pinsider, which not every owner follows-- we know this) and maybe even a quick VIDEO tutorial they can also place on their YouTube channel and then embed onto that page.

The more information you can provide the end user, the less questions Spooky will receive and the easier it will be for everyone.

Can someone show me where the USB ports are, to place the USB key to update the code? I've been looking for 10 mins, I must be blind!! :0

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WOW! I honestly would have never guessed that. You can't even see the holes from the front, so odd that Spooky doesn't make it more obvious or AT LEAST put a picture up on their website, pointing it out. Would save newbies a lot of headaches. Thanks for pointing this out.

This is starting to get frustrating now.

Got my R&M a couple of weeks ago, took a while to get bottom right flipper strong enough to get up left ramp. I think that's finally done now.

Still working on the top right flipper to hit garage regularly but it hasn't worked yet. Adjusted the flipper to be on par with the lane coming down to it, but still no great results. I almost NEVER am able to hit the garage upon launch. 1 out of 100 maybe.

And then today, the bottom left flipper started, well....bugging out! Here's a video below of the issue at hand. Obviously it started to "act up" during a multi-ball because of all the flipping so I wanted to show you what happens in this video. Can anyone diagnose the problem or should I be emailing Spooky? Thanks!

I was flipping the whole way through.

I received my R&M about a month ago, had issues with flippers like most people but last night the POP BUMPER stopped working. Nothing happens when ball hits it. Can anyone offer any advice on this? I'm a newbie, not a techie so please "walk me through it", if need be. Thanks!

EDIT: I played a few more games today, same shit. Pop bumper wasn't working. Then during my 4th game I noticed that the ANTI-GRAVITY button wasn't working or at least not making any noise when I pressed on it. Then a minute later, the pop bumper "came back" and so did the ANTI-GRAVITY. All seems fine now but I have NO IDEA what happened or if it will happen again. Hopefully just a temporary glitch that won't return.

What is a switch gap? What are coil lugs?

I'm a huuge R&M fan. I woke up extra early to order my R&M and received it about 2 months ago, #284.

Since then, I've had nothing but issues on it, in fact, I haven't played it in past 3 weeks because fuse keeps blowing every time, we're still not sure why. I'm a TOTAL NEWBIE and know nothing about how to fix pinball machines, nor do I have the time or inclination. For me, pinball is game, it's a fun hobby to play during my downtime.

Thankfully I know folks in my city who are good at that stuff but it costs $$ for them to come out here and try to fix these issues and many of them are ongoing. My garage flipper still isn't perfectly aligned it seems (rarely ever hit garage) and both the left and right bottom flipper have not worked at one time or another. In fact, I don't remember the game ever working perfectly, at least not since I got it. The pop bumper stopped working a few weeks ago as well, but we managed to fix that one. Oh and the plunger wouldn't "plunge" at one point but apparently that was related to the right flipper not working (blown fuse).

SPOOKY service has been good. They respond to every email and try to help as best they can. Buuuuuut they also come back to me with "Pinball machines require a ton of regular maintenance" in their emails and that's fine too but if you're gonna say that sort of thing to folks who have invested their hard-earned $10,000 into your machine, you should state that OFF THE HOP! In other words, when you are selling these machines that "require a ton of regular maintenance", why not tell that to the customer, before-hand?

Honestly, had you told me that I was going to be spending another 2-3 months "adjusting" stuff on the game and spending between $400-1000 extra dollars on fixing things or getting it right (I'm not even including the fact that we changed the noisy fan), I likely would have waited until all of these issues are worked out in the end of the run -- and I don't even know about that either.

I have purchased 4 brand-new STERN machines in the past 2 years and never had ANY issues with any of them. I mean, a plastic broke on my DEADPOOL but that's about it. I was able to play the games consistently and without worrying about what's gonna break next. I know everyone and their uncle is gonna say "But you can't compare both companies, one is a MASSIVE one, the other family-owned, etc..." but when you are charging the same amount for your games and telling people they require a "ton of maintenance" after the fact, that just doesn't add up to me.

Again, I still love SPOOKY and will continue to support them but I will NOT be buying any more of their brand new machines until all this BS "regular maintenance" things are worked out. These are NOT regular maintenance issues, guys. These are obvious (and ongoing) problems that are happening to many many people and to say it's "regular maintenance" isn't being honest. I read some guy say he spent 40-60 hours "adjusting" his machine a few pages ago. WTF??! These are problems and you can't just stick with the "Well, you guys can fix it!" as the resolution. At some point, I think it's important for SPOOKY to better understand its customers (not everyone are techies) and appreciate the amount of time/money that we're putting behind their machines.

And yes, I mean that maybe you should offer some kind of warranty/guarantee so that folks like me aren't stuck shelling out so much more $$ even after the fact. Just a thought.

This is a brilliant idea and the "key posts" in this thread are no solution as most people who own this game are NOT visiting pinside day-to-day and even if they did, they don't know their ways around like experts in this thread. Y'all need to remember that it's usually the most techie of the bunch (DYI) that visit these forums, a lot of owners just call/email the company directly or visit their website and Spooky's website is okay but can definitely need an upgrade. Even their CODE UPDATE page isn't very specific in terms of how to update code. There's just a link to the code and....well, good luck! Just add a few lines "To update your game code, click on the link on the left. Once downloaded, move the code to a flash drive. Etc" Then include a picture of WHERE we need to stick that drive in the game, since it's not obvious either. These are some basic things that can only help improve customer service and only takes a few mins to implement.

Wooooooooooooow! I just wrote about this, right under your post. I've been saying for months that Spooky can help make things easier for folks trying to update their code by adding some basic instructions on their CODE page. Not sure why they don't it: https://www.spookypinball.com/game-support/. It's great that they're telling us what's new in the latest code but more important to users is....HOW do I update my code?

There's a function in SETTINGS that allows you to basically disable the diverter and since I did so, the game (and my shots around the orbit) has been playing much smoother. Kinda feels like when I did the same thing on my Metallica. A lot better flow.

Can you elaborate on this a little more? I've had mine for 3-4 months now and still can't hit the left garage shot with any regularity. Everyone tells me to "play better" but it just doesn't seem to get there. Any advice would be appreciated, including pics of what you did, perhaps?

I can actually hit the top spinner with the upper flipper quite well, surprisingly, so no problems there. I even hit it 2-3 times in a row sometimes. The left garage shot on the other hand....fuggedaboutit!

I finally made peace with the fact that I will likely never perfect the top right-flipper garage shot, as much as we tinker with it, so I've let that go, but most recently whenever I try to reach the garage/dimension start via the right orbit (especially when I'm whipping a fast shot that way), it will "get stuck" right before it gets behind the house and ends up trinkling back down, via the right orbit. Feels like it hits something?

Does this happen to anyone else and what is the solution?

I'd love to be able to start dimensions more consistently at some point.

Spooky considers this part of the game. I hope they reconsider because their multi-balls are the shortest of any game I've ever owned and considering everyone considers the game "really hard", why make it that much harder? (and please don't say "play better"). Most pins give you back the balls that drain while the "ball save" is still on, but Spooky has placed a "limit" on the number of balls that can be saved. Maybe allow the option for some to change this in the SETTINGS? I like the game but it's been so hard to adjust stuff on it (still adjusting, even though I got the game almost 4-5 months ago) and with games lasting 2-3 mins sometimes, it would be nice to consider an option for those players who are looking to have more longer playtimes in the MBs.

I think you're describing what a lot of Pinsiders and tournament players enjoy about the game but there's another side which I'm trying to represent here and those are casual pinball players who just play to have fun, and aren't really looking to be challenged or to improve their skills. I think most people on Pinside would likely agree with you but not everyone who purchased this game is on Pinside, in fact, this game in particular brought out a lot of people who just liked the theme and wanted to own the game from the outside. I know that whenever friends come over, they will play it for 1-2 games but then move on to something else because it's just too hard. Even top players say the same thing, so there's truth there. Why make it more difficult by making the MB more limited than most other pins?? It's important to keep a game challenging for top players but it's almost important to remember that a lot of people just wanna have fun and play different modes and get into different dimensions and when they can't do so, it's frustrating, hence why I brought this up since the MB option in settings wouldn't hurt players like yourself, but it would allow "newbies" to adjust so that their games can be more fulfilling.

I think I've finally resolved my "garage shot issues" as a tech came over today, loosened the left orbit curb (removed 2 screws) and removed house to fix diverter issue that was sending back a lot of my shots from the right orbit. Woo-hoo! Finally feels like a "fuller game" now that I can hit the garage more consistently.

The "bad news" is that after he left I noticed that I wasn't getting any Glomflomite multiballs. Like at all.

In fact, even though my shots are registering going through the horseshoe, I'm never told to "lock a ball" up there anymore. Like ever. Balls aren't getting locked up there anymore. Hence, can't get any Glomflomite multiballs, which clearly are required for the game.

Any idea what the problem may be?

Nice! I just noticed that the Flooble-crank switch is not functioning either, so I can't build up the gravity meter/magnet either.

So you think the same crank switch can affect the horseshoe section? I don't remember the targets going up at all, maybe once or twice but mostly they are staying down. Lights are functional in horseshoe.

EDIT: So I just played the TOTAL RICKALL adventure and the targets outside horseshoe did go up during the entire adventure. They were registering when hit. It also locked a ball during PICKLE RICK and held it locked. Weird. It only seems to be the Glomflomite multiball that doesn't seem to be working or locking balls.

Close. He accidentally switched the "switch" behind the ball to a "magnet switch" but then he realized it was in the wrong spot and placed it instead of the right orbit switch. Unfortunately, I believe he forgot to put the old switch back behind the flooble-crank, so that's why the flooble ain't working and now I understand why the balls aren't being locked either. Thanks everyone!

Now that I appear to have most of the "you gotta fix this" issues out of the way in this game (at least I'm hoping), I've been enjoying it a little of late, even though it's still tough as shit. I love the show though, so it's worth it in the long run. I had a question for MOD-ers out there, what are you putting on your left ramp, to cover the screws halfway up the ramp? It kinda looks like a perfect spot to place a big head of SCARY TERRY with his mouth open over the ramp (ball goes through) but just wondering if a MOD company is making anything for that spot, or if you guys have anything there on your game? I have the cool ANATOMY PARK over the right ramp, and it's slick there.

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IMG_0528 (resized).jpg

This happens to me a lot as well. Some games it works fine, other games it doesn't register at all. Just THUDs, like you said.

Something weird happened to my game today as I moved it from the top floor of my house to the basement. The move was pretty straight-forward, no issues per se. I also had to remove the TOPPER because it wouldn't fit into the basement otherwise.

Anyway, everything went well, the game turns on, the screen turns on, the playfield lights, music and everything turn on....buuuuut the game doesn't turn on. Doh!

When I press START, literally nothing happens. I tried to go into the SETTINGS inside the door and nothing happened when I pressed on that as well, i.e. it doesn't turn on the SETTINGS menu.

Any suggestions? (ps: I'm not a DYIer, not very techie)