Joining the club this week (I hope), my pin is in transit from Texas to me in Michigan. Should arrive Thursday. I haven’t played this game since Expo last fall, when my first impression was “beautiful haunted house, fun theme and art package, somewhat vanilla ramps/shots, limited code.” I have been reading for weeks that the code is stellar now, and still not quite finished. Would most people say this game is night and day different compared to when it was launched? Also, how common are people finding the VUK alignment problem? Is this pretty much an across the board design problem, or does it vary from pin to pin? I would like to be prepared to deal with any adjustments, essential mods, etc., when mine arrives. Thanks!

Awesome! Got confirmation from shipping that it arrives tomorrow. Can't wait to get her downstairs in my basement and play with her. Um, you know.

Wow! Just added this game and on my 4th or 5th game, I reached House Party mode, and scored 550 million on that mode alone! 720 mil total. Such a fun mode. I love the spinning turret on the house. I read that feature was removed from the new code. I haven’t updated it yet. Is that true?

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I agree with jfh. If you have enjoyed TAF and it’s time to move on to a new title, it makes sense. Just be sure you won’t regret not having a beautiful TAF, because those are not as easy to find and replace as a new or mint cond EHoH. Elvira is a newer title, and is popular, but I would think finding one will be easier than replacing a high-end restored TAF, a title from 28 years ago.

So the windows in the house can be accessed by collecting the skeleton key? That’s awesome. I’ve reached House Party, which is the midpoint, twice so far. I want to see what happens when you start every haunt! Cool game getting cooler as the complex code unfolds.

Stern will usually stand by new purchases, at least by replacing the defective part and they will help with tech support by phone. I recommend contacting Chas in tech support at one-eight hundred five four two fifty three seven seven. I bought a new GB which didn’t work from day 1. He sent me a new node board and other parts and walked me thru the fix. It worked. I’ve had my GB 3 years now.

Good luck, get that pin fixed!

Yeah, lower the eject power, add Mylar to the lane, or consider metal protectors for both sides of the shooter lane. Cliffy makes them. I used to just use Mylar, but you’ll still get some wear under it. The metal is pretty bulletproof, if you don’t mind the change in appearance.

Jandrea95 is correct. It’s one of the last in feature settings, I believe. “Disable action button to start game on free play” or something to that effect. I got tired of starting a game every time I leaned over the game to adjust something.

You have an incredible collection of classic 90’s era Bally/WMS games, btw!

Ok, so here's my thing with the crypt VUK. I don't have issues with mine firing the ball up onto the playfield. It doesn't take more than one try to spit the ball out. But, it doesn't come out clean and hit the trunk lock standups (is it supposed to?). My understanding was, that's the intended design. It's supposed to assist with hitting those 3 stand-ups across the playfield. Others have had success repositioning the VUK assembly under the pf. I'm worried I will create a problem that doesn't exist yet. Should I be happy the ball comes out every time? Or go for it and make the game play the way it could/should? I've tried all kinds of eject power settings. Full power sorta spits it out toward the left outlane, or just below the standups. It doesn't seem to come flying out smoothly. Lower power settings result in smoother eject, but the balls don't reach the standups, they head toward the left slings or left flipper.

Should I be grateful the VUK works and leave it be?

Thanks! I’m pretty handy at this point with adjustments. So I’m ok with drilling new pilot holes and adjusting the VUK. I just want to be sure it’s worth the trouble to have the VUK strike the “open the trunk” lock stand ups. I would prefer that! Is this an adjustment most owners are making?

Ok, I made the recommended adjustment to the VUK, using the pics provided to try to match exactly where it should be moved. Now it trickles out much worse than before. Hmmmm. It must be a VERY finicky sweet spot to hit. Take a look at my new position, it looks very similar to the others who have had success. Any ideas?

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Got it! I went back to my original position, put the screws back in, but turned the assembly clockwise slightly with the screws loose, and with only the top screw attached to the left side of the metal bracket, up through the ramp. I couldn't attach the bottom screw when I was done, but it's held tight by the top screw and the 3 on the right side of the assembly. And boom! It's blasting across the pf into the 3 trunk stand ups very smoothly. So, for my machine, it was a very slight adjustment, and new screw holes weren't essential, I just had to turn the assembly down to the right (clockwise) slighly and re-attach it. Thanks for the help everyone!

Congrats on your WOZ and welcome to this awesome hobby! WOZ was also my first ever pin. The problem for me was, where do you go from there?! For me, WOZ was the most amazing looking game I had ever seen. I had played lots of other pins, but I had to really learn what I liked to appreciate other games. I sorta wish I had started with a Sys11 or something and found WOZ much later. EHoH is much different from WOZ in most ways. Both are great games, but WOZ is a widebody with 2 upper playfields that plays very differently. I had mine for almost 4 years, but was ready to move on after about 800 games. I’ve owned about 50 pins since WOZ, and EHoH is one of the best to come out in quite a while! The code is excellent, and the haunted house is one of the best features in pinball! Good luck!

Do you know about how many of each trim level were sold in America so far? Is the 200 the LE? Does anyone know roughly how many premiums were made so far?

Agree. I had a JP2 first and we enjoyed it. But I didn’t see even half the game and had some trouble understanding the rules. I blew up one game for a top 5 score and had no idea why. To be fair, JP2 wasn’t 100% finished with its code yet either. But we have enjoyed playing HoH more than JP. That’s just us.

A friend of mine recently started collecting pins. He bought my WOZ and my first Scared Stiff, and then he got an Alice Cooper and ordered a JP2. So he will have a jjp, spooky, Bally/WMS and Stern. He wants a CGC pin too. Then he needs an American - Houdini, Oktoberfest or Hot Wheels! Tough decisions!

Such a crazy, terrible story. I’m very glad to hear Stern did the (obviously) right thing and is replacing it, with free blades, and letting you use any parts that you need. How on Earth that game sustained that much damage, or was allowed to leave the factory like that is a mystery. I’ve had issues with every NIB pin I’ve purchased except for one. All needed some adjustments or fixes, except my MET. It played great from day 1 and I was amazed how it needed nothing, just getting the settings customized. Glad you will have the new, pristine game you deserve!

Kitty from Scared Stiff couldn’t be left behind...

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He’s on the backglass chillin’ with Elvira.

I find all three to be fantastic representations of their eras. EATPM is a really fun, challenging Sys11, while SS is a great 90s pin. HoH is an excellent recent game with superior video, audio and deep code. If you could only have 3 pins, these 3 wouldn’t be a bad choice to get a flavor for the past 30 years of pinball. I feel!

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Most posts are held in place by a nut underneath the playfield. It takes a bit of effort, but if you raise the playfield and can hold the post from spinning (I use alligator pliers), you can remove the nut from under the playfield and change the post position. I wish it were simpler too.

Oh, gotcha. Yep, the above suggestions are options I’ve used. Unscrew the post with the nut off, even tho it’s not threaded into the playfield usually, or, I pull up on it with pliers, and a towel over the post so I don’t mangle it, and while I pull up I apply pressure in a circular manner, which gradually releases the post. That’s difficult to do if the post is obstructed by something. Those posts can be in there tight!

Man, Elvira is aging like nobody else!

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I wondered why it seemed so quiet.

I think the house in EHOH is one of the coolest toys ever.

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It’s definitely not as raunchy as Scared Stiff. The focus is more on the B-movie clips, which is fun, especially if you guys like campy horror movies. I’ve had JP2, TMNT premium and Star Wars LE, and I liked them all, but they all came and went. EHoH is bolted down. For me it’s a keeper and ticks every box.

One of the many nice things about EHoH is that for those who don’t feel it’s a keeper for whatever reason, resale or trade shouldn’t be too difficult, it’s such a popular title now. It’s definitely worth a good, long look. Great pin for guests and casual players too.

An ice cold lager and butter pretzels would go very well with your collection.

I will take Fathom, Flash, and AFM please.

Thank you!

You shaker, you brought her!

Mine is two hamsters running on a wheel, one heavy and one not so heavy. Much cheaper and I feed them thru the coin slot. It’s a more authentic feel.

Those are pretty wicked! About how long did it take for them to ship?

Really stoked for anyone getting a new one of these, and I hope it’s soon for anyone waiting. It’s such a cool game to play, and even just to look at and tinker with. I just added some spooky trees to mine and I really like it. Oh, and Medicine Hat is a great name for a city! I read true crime and there is an unbelievable, tragic case that happened there 15 years ago that I’ll never forget.

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My fav sign mods are made by ULEK Store. David is the owner. Great guy. He makes great signs for JP2 and several others, Batman 66/BDK, etc. But I’m not sure if he offers any for EHoH. I did take a zombie warning sign from TWD and put it on EHoH. Night of The Living Dead is my favorite flick featured in EHoH.

I have these multicolored blades from Tilt. They look great, but I must say I like the Retro Refurbs blades as much or more. Pretty sweet.

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Did Stern change the back door entrance/skill shot on later models to make the skill shot easier to make? Or was there a fix kit for that? Mine was built Nov, 2019 and that shot is pretty hard to make. I like it that way. Maybe 1/3 of my plunges end up in the back door. The plunge must be just right.

Yours has the black rubber cushions too.

Holy lord. The game is...fine??? That’s so lucky. That box was treated very badly.

Added the deluxe speaker kit tonight. What an awesome mod. Well worth the price. Dazzling light show and tons of modes. Speakerlightkits.com.

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I have Voodoo HD glass on mine. No issues that I’ve seen yet. Anti-glare glass is pretty awesome on EHoH. The artwork is worthy of it!

Does anyone have a few backup pop-up gargoyles and would sell me one or two? I would like to have a backup just in case. These guys bonk their heads a lot.

I agree. I bought a GB premium back in summer of 2017, just my second pin ever at that point, and I had zero pinball tech skills then. My GB had a “subway eject device malfunction” warning right out of the box. I called, left messages, spoke with Chaz multiple times. I bought a voltmeter to try to determine the problem. After he sent me a new coil for the subway VUK and the problem persisted, he finally sent me a new node board. That fixed the problem, but only after many frustrating calls and 6 weeks of waiting to play my new pin. I remember saying to him, “$7000+ for a new machine and I have to make it work right?” At least it helped me start to learn to make repairs. Chaz did spend a couple hours on the phone walking me thru those repairs. RIP, Chaz.

He died last August. I heard it was heart-related. Stern issued a statement simply saying he passed suddenly. He was always pretty responsive, and did take the time to walk you through troubleshooting on the phone. He never seemed in a hurry to get off the phone, and he had a calm, chill demeanor that was a good fit for dealing with panicked pinball owners. It was a loss to Stern and our community when he died.

Black is the new blue.

Nice to see more new owners receiving their pins. I remember playing this game and JP2 at Expo 2019 when both were revealed. I liked both games a lot, but I was surprised at some of the negative feedback this game got then. The code was unfinished, so you couldn’t do everything yet, but all the main shots were there and the house was obviously a high-quality item and better than the usual shrinky dink plastics so common these days. The only thing I was surprised about was the straight forward plastic ramps. Nordman is known for his many awesome twisty ramps (POTC, DM, WH2o, SS, EATPM). These are fast, functional and smooth, but mostly straight up and back. I love the game tho, and I’m glad to see it hovering around the top 10 pins of all time!

Should is the operative word. I agree 100%. Fortunately I’ve only had a couple major issues with Stern pins that required parts be replaced, but both times they sent new parts and offered tech help by phone (before Chas died). The first time I was new to pinball and pretty upset they didn’t offer to pay for a tech to come repair the NIB pin I had just paid $7200 for. That was serious money in 2017.

These are all awesome. This is a fantastic example of a 3-pin collection. LOTR is a long-ball adventure. AFM can be more punishing if set up hard, and EHoH is just a fun, well-designed recent release. Great collection! I have my first AFM coming from AZ next week!

I’m definitely no expert on AFM. I bet some owners can speak to that. Generally the pitch will make most games harder or easier depending on the speed. I’ve played some AFM machines that were very fast and game times were shorter. Others I’m sure good players can play for a long while. Should be some settings too that make the goals harder to achieve. I’ll find out soon, mine shipped today!

Mylar is extremely useful for playfields and I use it often in high-traffic areas. But for shooter lanes and around scoops and other places that take a beating, nothing bulletproofs like a Cliffy. Also, for pins that already have wear in those spots, Cliffys serve to protect and cover any eyesores. Mylar is great around pop bumpers too. The pre-cut rings are awesome.

Agree. One feature that seems underutilized is the Beast Booster spinner. Seems like they could have employed it throughout the game or during more modes. It’s one of the first features I noticed when images of the game were released. I figured Beast Booster would be a major part of the game, like you’d have to charge up the Booster to full power to destroy each monster and complete each mode. Could be fun.

It can vary from game to game. I’ve had mine for over a year and it’s given me no problems. I had the standard VUK issue, where it didn’t shoot the ball across the playfield and hit the stand ups, but I adjusted it and it’s perfect now. The house is a pretty complex mech, with several places to enter. Plus you have the crypt and the trunk, so it’s got some moving parts. But I’ve been lucky, it’s a very reliable game for me, and I’m the second owner of mine. First owner said he had no issues. I hope you get yours soon! You’ll love it.

Looks like Neil Peart’s estate put one of his houses up for sale!

Man, I’m so sorry. That’s a truly terrible sight.

Glad you posted your experience and identified the distro. Shippers and distros will only feel the need to improve if they feel it affect their biz or reputation. That game will need a skilled hand and good eye to replace and restore any damage, and who knows what glitches could show up later due to the tumble. If they offered to have Stern restore it, with a discount for customer inconvenience and loss of use, plus a solid warranty for possible hidden issues, then maybe. So sorry for your loss.

Cute! I hope your beer seal is intact.

Yep, Rocket and Beer Seal are the best of friends!

Does it have little squares of fabric missing all over it?

I hear it’s a vault of either Big Buck Hunter, WWE or The Rolling Stones.

Wow!

I don’t put a lot of plays on my EHoH, maybe a few games a month, although I love this pin. I read this thread yesterday about the Santa Claus mode and decided to give it a try. I got the key right away, and worked my way through the rooms to unlock the 8th, and…Santa!

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Oh! Lol! So I was patiently visiting room after room feeling the thrill of gradually reaching room 8 and unlocking the door…and it was already open? That’s funny. That’s what I get for not knowing all the rules.

For sure. I hear the 41st Anniversary Edition will feature a new surprise color for the armor (not purple), and will come with a piece of insulation from Elvira’s house. $29,900. Pre-order today. Shipping 2024.

What a legend Lyman was. And what a legacy he left behind. How many games in our collections did he code? His codes were often masterpieces, and even then we always wanted just one more update because he could always make them even better. Damn. Pinball suffered a loss today. Sad for his family. RIP Lyman.

I did interpret the comment as a dig at Stern, not at Lyman. Sometimes, timing is everything. It’s good to see an apology tho when people are upset by a post. People usually just double down. An apology, like this, is better.

Does anyone have an extra EHoH Stern banner they are willing to sell? I would like to buy one. PM me. Thx.

Thanks, yeah I’d like the official full size one. Seems the going rate on banners is $200+. Pricey!

What was the Cointaker price for the topper? Just curious, as I bought one from a retailer last year for well over $999 or whatever the recommended price tag. It was during the early run when they seemed to be going up and up, with some listed for $2k+.

Nice, glad a few more people were able to add one. I’m sure they will make more. It’s a well-made topper.

That’s one of the best things about pinball…hundreds of pins to choose from and to try to find, acquire and decide if it’s a keeper. I love EHoH, SS and EATPM. SS is my personal fav of the 3. I’ve played Godzilla LE and pro and really like them both. I’m hoping to find a premium someday. But for whatever reason DP is just one I haven’t connected with. I respect how popular it is, and I even owned a pro, but sold it last year after a few weeks. The katana lock ramp is truly awesome. I would even own it again, because I’ve sold games and later decided they were keepers. This market is different than when I started 5-6 years ago, with some very high prices and plenty of competition for pins, but still deals to be found.

Sometimes, it’s better to walk away in your prime than stay too long.

Your troubles are over!

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Congrats! EHoH is an awesome game. Your 40th anniversary edition with topper is a beauty. I bought my premium 2 years ago, before I knew how good this game would eventually become. A huge code update happened just days after I bought mine. I found a topper last year and I bought rails Cointaker once offered. I’m not sure I can bring myself to screw them into the cabinet! Maybe someone can post a picture of how they look installed so I can decide.

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Looks awesome! Thanks!

That’s what I’m wrestling with trying to decide. I think the rails are fantastic. They would look great on any Elvira pin, but they don’t really work (or fit) on the first two, and I can’t decide on EHoH, although I like the look.

The real question is, what will Elvira 4 look like, and when can we expect it? I’m going to guess 2031, “Elvira: The Golden Years”

Lol! EHoH will only be 21 years old at that time, no doubt many will still be in amazing shape. Lots of 90s era Bally/WMS in beautiful condition today, fortunately! I just realized, my son will be 21 then too. It will go by in a blink I’m sure.

The Stern blades have perfectly matching art for sure. Here are two other options, one from Tilt Graphics and one from Retro Refurbs. I have the Tilt blades which I like. Both are good options.

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Comet Pinball does. Check out the spotlight kits. You can buy individual lamps and other creative lighting. Their matrix system makes it easy.

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They definitely get busy and they do sometimes take a few days to reply. My last warranty issue took a week to get an order # from Eddie Yates in technical support. I received the parts another week or so later. If you don’t receive an order #, email service again with your name and the pin serial number. That was my experience at least.

A dirty back door opto is known as a brown eye.

All three of those are lovelies.

I’m not a topper guy, but I do like this topper. The scream frequency is adjustable, and mine only happens a couple times each game. It’s ok, nothing spectacular about the scream. But what I find worthwhile about the topper is the look of it, and how it seems to complete the game. The gargoyles design and build quality is quite good, and it really looks like it belongs on this machine. It’s debatable whether it’s really worth the price, but I’m sure for some buyers it’s a valuable upgrade. I paid $1500 for mine and I’m glad I got one.

Installed the Docquest video display mod in my right apron today. Great mod, and wasn’t hard to install either. Just be sure to order a splitter from Doug at Speakerlightkits.com if you have another mod plugged into the 12v in the backbox. Awesome mod by Docquest!

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Feel free! I was surprised how clearly the vids show in the pics.

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That’s a bummer, and such a silly mistake for Stern. Shooter rods are pretty standard length on most solid state pins, I find. Weird they would use a rod noticeably shorter for an expensive mod. You can buy a raw shooter rod with nothing on the end for $8 or so. But that doesn’t help if the clown is glued on or would be damaged by removing it.

I had hoped for the same. The spinner has “Beast Booster” on it. I was thinking, cool, you need to charge the booster fully by ripping the spinner until you achieve a full charge, then hit the button on the lock bar, or make a certain shot, to defeat a monster. Are there any modes that involve the spinner like that?

I sold my Star Wars LE with R2 topper for $7500 a couple years ago. Times change! Cool topper tho.

My 3-year-old son’s new nickname should be “hot coil,” because he constantly presses both flippers repeatedly if a ball is in play anywhere on the table. He will pause if the ball is locked or occupied by a mech, but usually he’s keeping them moving…just in case. He recently got multiball on EATPM, which isn’t a gimme!

Prob worth a look. I bought a MM King of Payne topper and found the base cracked. Returned it and was lucky to find another new one. I agree the EHoH topper is well-made and pretty solid/heavy. I was pleasantly surprised, price/value aside.

I think UnholySpectacle is right. An opto or other switch is being triggered. This was discussed a year or two ago in this thread. It’s definitely been an issue for some who put up crazy scores due to the same problem. In switch test, something should be opening/closing repeatedly, is my guess. Let us know if you identify it. Ramp optos have been the culprit before.

Welcome to the club! EHoH has evolved into a masterpiece in a series of 3 pins that are all awesome representations of their respective eras. Imho!

Yep, $7200 was about the base price for these in 2019. Mine was NOB I bought from the original owner. He was asking $7, we agreed on $6800 plus shipping. I remember feeling like I went out on a limb at that price because so many people were down on it at that time.

Yep. I think people underestimated the mechs in EHoH. The crypt is a cool mech with the revolving target that is fun to backhand and also accepts balls to lock for Gappa Angry (I think), but then you have trunk also, which opens to accept balls from the left ramp, a very cool shot to make. Then, you can even sneak a ball into the trunk from the side, which is always fun. That’s before you even consider the house, which has a rear entry (a tricky skill shot), and 3 more ways to enter from the front. The house is definitely my fav mech in pinball. It’s so well designed, and they didn’t cheap out and simply use the plastic shrinky dink pieces like they could have. The gargoyles are an upgrade on the frogs from SS too. Most pins I’ve owned I have considered selling or trading from time to time. I’ve never considered letting EHoH go.