I introduced a friend to Funhouse last night - a game he heretofore thought was just (and could only be) a video pinball.

One thing he said while playing was that it was virtually impossible for him to read the mirror. That made me realize that, because I have played the game so many times over so many years, I don’t actually ever read the mirror when I’m playing; I just know what feature is lit by its position on the mirror.

But reading the mirror is a legitimate concern for someone new to the game (and now for me since I’ll forever notice it every time I play.)

Has anyone done anything that improves the readability of the mirror? What might help do so? Tone down the brightness of bulbs in the mirror? Aim a spotlight at it? I certainly do not want to somehow “fog it up” as that would make it look more like a sign rather than a mirror.

Thoughts, suggestions, success stories?

My apologies if this has already been discussed, but I just discovered it:

NOT virtual pinball, mind you (although the cabinet he made is pretty neat) but rather the deeper - and much darker - story he offers about what might really be going on with Rudy and the funhouse. If you thought the game was creepy before, wait until you hear this. Then try to unhear it, especially when you're playing the game.

I totally, thoroughly, and completely do not believe that this is what Mr. Lawlor and the team had in mind when they designed Funhouse. But minimally it will give you an interesting tale to tell to taunt and tantalize tribes of the easily terror-stricken. And maximally? I could be wrong.

Just put mine in a few minutes ago. I really like them - reminds of the grip/love testers in old arcades.
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FH Mirror Incandescents Smaller (resized).jpg

One of the few things that always annoyed me on my Funhouse was how certain lamps - even after swapped for LEDs - were right in your face as you play. I was especially plagued by four of them on the left side of the playfield: the one under the rise on the crazy steps, the one just behind the upper flipper, and ones behind the "T" standup target for STEP. I could never think of an appropriately functional but also aesthetic way to soften them so over the years I just lived with it.

This past weekend, while doing some thinning of old crap that's been laying around too long, I came across a half-used bag of pillow fiberfill. It hit me as I was about to toss it in the trash: COTTON CANDY!!! See the pics.

I used a pink and a blue alcohol-based marker to color four balls of fiberfill. The two I used are double ended: chisel tip and brush tip. The brush tip worked perfectly when you use the side of brush. It only takes a few minutes to do each one. You want a deep, vibrant color because if you stop when you reach point where the ball looks like cotton candy in your hand, you'll hardly notice the color when it's lit up (not that I did that in my initial rush to try one on my game ASAP, of course.) I still have a little tweaking to do of the ones behind the T, but I'm liking both the effectiveness and how it fits with the theme.

(And yes - that is a spotlight I added using a Matrix kit from the good folks at Comet. It helps illuminate Rudy's face. I tied it to the LED in my lampshade so they'd operate together.)

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I do think it is in quite excellent shape.
This one is most definitely anchored, chained and bolted to the floor.

I can send you a few pics unless folks here really want to see more pictures of another Funhouse.

There is one place that I have incandescents on my Funhouse: the mirror.
If you look around you can find incandescent 555s in all sorts of colors. I have 1 red, 4 yellows and 1 green in the corresponding places on the mirror. Gives it that old arcade “grip tester” look since no bulb condoms are needed. Since they’re exposed and not under any inserts, I’m not too concerned about them hurting anything. Plus I bought a dozen of each color (x 4 for yellow) so I have a decent supply to cover the inevitable burnouts. But I like their look on the mirror and they’re a breeze to replace when needed.

Frosted sunlight LEDs everywhere else.

If you want to make Rudy even creepier regardless of how he's painted, check out High Voltages’ Rudy Mad Eyes mod here:

http://ccpinball.com/shop.html?v=1125c

As noted there, the video doesn't do it justice - the eyes go VERY red when triggered.

I had to overcome my long-standing hesitancy to take Rudy partially apart, but the instructions made it very straightforward. Be sure you read through them several times before starting so you have the overall picture of how it's going to go. And while it won't take you that long, be sure you have a couple of hours available when you start so you can finish it in one session and not have to come back to it part way through later.

My factory-Rudy is much more intimidating now, so I can only imagine how nasty he'll look with any custom paint jobs.

Watch the three star posts just above the white pop bumper.