Ok I just spent about 4 hours investigating the smoked coil. Can someone flip up their pf and check the molex male to male z connector (located in between the 3-drop target assembly and the upper PFs) shown in my picture? Coming from the driver board (top of the a connector in my pic) yellow/green wire is 4th from right, and yellow/black is 5th from right. On the bottom of the z connector (going to coils) my machine it looks like the two wires are flipped (yellow/green is now 5th from right, and yellow/black is 4th). It looks like the hold line was crossed with the power line. If someone could check theirs to confirm (or disprove). Thanks!!! lpeters82

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I’ll check tomorrow night if no one beats me to it

Looks like all the colors line up on mine

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Ouch

Thanks Morgoth00 !!

Spooky pinball!

(Some assembly required)

Received my HWN last week!

I wanted to give my initial and honest opinion of the build quality and the gameplay.
I have been following this thread since the start and had my concerns due to the some of the negative comments. However, I had a sense that some opinions may not have had any grounds to be taken seriously, so I waited for mine to come! Or a better way to put it, I could tell I may have a different opinion on things.

In short, the build quality is solid! I have had no problems whatsoever with my game. I did spray 2K to be safe and since I have good mask and painters suit, it was a simply task. The game is truly a work of art and is loaded.

Now the gameplay, I am really enjoying it! Not only is it unique but it is challenging in a good way. I like to be forced to make challenging shots and I enjoy being punished for not making them as well! Hence, it does have a great horror vibe! The light shows are amazing. Overall, I am very impressed and happy with my purchase. If you enjoy horror games, you’re going to love this! It reminds me of my BSD, a sharpshooter with a creepy vibe, hard and not forgiving, but very satisfying when you’re playing great. Allot people I know do not like horror movies and I feel if you do not like/understand the horror genera you are going to have a hard time loving this game, regardless of the gameplay.

I really wanted to just let other buyers know that if you enjoy horror games at all, you are going to be very pleased with this game! I really do enjoy the gameplay and I am surprised how much I enjoy the mini playfields as well. When I watched gameplay videos its was hard for me to tell if the mini playfields would be fun, but by actually playing the game I am having a blast!

The code can use some work, mainly the few bugs I encounter from time to time, but I can tell those will work themselves out. The display graphics are honestly fine in my opinion because I am looking at the playfield, not watching the LCD. Even when I do watch, I am still content with its current state but look forward to future improvements.

Overall, has the one more game feel to it and nails the Halloween theme!

EVERYTHING you mention in your post happens to EVERY manufacturer and I know you know that... So what's the point of your post? Are you going to deny that no other manufacturer has these same issues? Of course QC issues are a problem, of course there are mistakes that are made that shouldn't have been made. I guess I'm just baffled at this kind of a post from someone with your kind of experience, knowledge, and history. You're fed up and you don't even have a game yet? That just doesn't make any logical sense whatsoever.

To be clear here, I'm not defending the issues, I'm just commenting on an experienced operators post.

Jeff

The Butthurt. It is Strong with you.

Sorry to hear about your flip, Bro.

I don't think so. Each manufacturer has their own problems. Different problems. If you can't see the difference that's fine, but I personally find Spooky's problems to be more of a nuisance. There's a reason most operators stick to Stern and Williams/Bally. Spooky does a lot of things well and I don't wish to knock them any further in this thread. My spot is now for sale.

Hi everyone. I got 676 last Thursday. Really enjoying it. My speaker LEDS and topper stopped working. Talked to Spooky and they said try reinstalling.
My question is, the reimage instruction say I should have seven folders and three files. But it seems I have eight folders and three files. Not sure if this is right or wrong

Look who's back to try and throw a wet towel on people's enjoyment. Too bad buddy, we know this game is a hit and reading these posts obviously other people are finding out too. Too bad you're probably jealous and sold your spot. Go away.

not sure your statement about operators is very accurate, operators go with what is available. spooky makes one game every 18 months or so, stern typically makes four a year. stern also has production capabilities that are much higher than spooky.

that being said, literally every arcade local to me has at least one spooky title.

So none of those manufacturers have ever had wiring harness problems, decal problems, topper malfunction problems, etc...? That being said, I get your point here from an operators standpoint in that a game that's not working is a game that's not making money. Spooky doesn't seem to be geared toward operators as they wouldn't take as many chances on things I don't think if they were, and I like the chances they take. I don't mean to disparage your decision, I would take delivery first and then make a decision from there. To each their own.

Jeff

Has anyone noticed an issue with hitting the skill shot? Not sure if I discovered a bug in the new code or what, but my machine is not allowing the skill shot.

At the beginning of each ball, I am able to select my skill shot and launch the ball. But once the ball clears the orbit, if I hit either of the flippers (before even receiving the ball), I'll hear the "monkey" sound and the center bank of drop targets all go red (indicating the skill shot was missed). Again, this all happens before I've even get the ball.

I only started seeing this issue after going to 1.07 of the code. I haven't tried rolling back to 1.06 to see if the issue disappears.

Anyone else?

I’ve seen it act like that but I also know I’ve gotten that skill shot a few times since the upgrade… not sure if it was on a short plunge. Also don’t know if I clipped something on a full plunge that scored no points but made the drops turn red.

I've hit the skill shot on the new code. Maybe a mis-adjusted switch somewhere registering a phantom hit (possibly from machine vibration), and the machine thinks the ball is in play. I would go into the switch test and see if you notice anything.

Quick question, I understand they put out new code, but when will we see the update that improves the animations as well as polishes the code? I know they have a new group of programmers, but have they mentioned when it may be ready?

Figured it out and it was my issue, not the machine's. I learned that if I'm too heavy on the left and right flippers to the point that I actuate the upper playfield flippers, this will effectively cancel the skill shot. If I'm light enough to not energize those upper flippers, I am able to try and make those skill shots.

Not that I hit them.

That’s still odd. You should be able to flip the flippers without killing the skill shot. Sometimes you hit the ball and it doesn’t trip any scoring switch, giving you another chance at the skill shot.

Just watching some Avalanche v Oilers and waiting for new code to drop.

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Is that a homebrew Halloween pin I see back there??

Yes sir. Started 3 years ago. Progress hit a few snags with lack of availability of the Pascal board, and finishing playfields and backglass. Should be picking it back up in the next few weeks to finish though.

Here’s the thread:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/halloween-jc-retheme-this-is-gonna-be-killer

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Thought I’d put this out to the group that has improved my gaming experience. MRS switch on the right side of the orbit is a must. I also noticed my left and right slings were not sensitive enough as sometimes the balls would tap them and they wouldn’t react. I adjusted the leaf switches on both slings so now they are much more sensitive and has made the game for me much better. Just thought I’d put that out there.

Go into Switch Test, and see if 'Switch 17' has registered as being active. I had the same kind of issue with the skill shot, and with help from AJ at Spooky determined that the game was registering Switch 17 on the initial plunge. The issue is Switch 17 is not used in the game, but is present on the board. I actually trimmed off the connecter pin on that part of the board, and I was able to get it to go away. If you see Switch 17 active, try that.

Haha that is funny you said that. I spent several games trying to just dial in my lower hedge shot. The geometry of this game has fantastic challenges. I have now been able to hit it just at the tip of right flipper. Go too much and hit the sling and risk a drain. At first I thought it was like the milk can shot on Houdini-I thought I can't hit it to save my life-then I hit the right spot. The Hedge multi-ball is one of the best for sure, and my guest that play it really enjoy it as well.

Which MRS switch are you talking about and what did you do? I haven’t had any issues with the orbit registering.

I don't know the details about the switch itself but if you see the play field stripped the right orbit switch is really not centered inside the orbit and it's not registering for some people. That switch takes care of it but it doesn't sound like you're one of those people having an issue

i seem to be having this issue. on old code and still on the new 1.7 . It seems like most times I hit the pumpkin scoop, the first "mode" that starts is jack o lantern multiball (dont fear the reaper). I get to other modes usually after this plays. not sure if its a bug but it seems early for a main mutliball mode, usually within the first few minutes of playing

Ok, that makes sense. I’ve read of people having that issue but wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something.

I thought Jack O Lantern was qualified by starting 3 modes.

The Pinotaur board can get phantom switch closures from empty header pins? What the hell??

yeah thats what I'm reading but mine starts upon hitting the pumpkin scoop before starting any other modes

Hmm definitely not happening for me on current code? I'll pay more attention tonight or tomorrow but I definitely need to go through a few (3 right?) before that to happen...

thanks guys. i think i am also having an issue with my 3 drop targets when I start a game. the actuators or whatever pushes them up fire a few times (3-5). I see in most gameplay videos it just lifts up and stops firing. I wonder if its related at all to my multiball issue.

thanks!

Yeah, it was totally strange. I was able to recreate it just plunging the ball in switch test, and I'm like "wth"? Confirmed with AJ, after consultation with Bug on the issue. Not sure the logic behind how it happens. Above my paygrade.

If the code simply counts droptarget reset-coil activation and enables JoL after 3 resets, that could very well be it. Make sure all droptarget switches are open when they're all up so it doesn't keep trying to reset the bank.

The pumpkin on mine is a very easy backhand from the cradled right flipper. Very hard to sink it from the left flipper.

Left flipper hard shot for sure, but haven't tried the other scoop.
Of course if its on the left flipper an easy shot up to Sanitarium and let it fall in there

Yes, for mine all it required was to bend the scoop down a bit and put a bigger piece of Mylar covering the cliffy.

Uhm, can we say THIS GAME IS ADDICTING!

One thing I would like to see is the option to adjust the voice call-out & sound effects with different level volume options. I really want to emphasize the sound effects during certain modes while keeping the call-outs at a normal decibel level. Some great sound effects in this game and I want to crank it up but the volume balance is not there to do so. Stern has done this and it really transforms the game with being able to customize. Also Stern adding the equalizer option really helps with adjusting and fine tuning the sound levels. Halloween is not like a rock and roll pin where you crank it up but some of the sound effects amplified would take this game even further. I also like the idea someone came up with for a 'black out mode'. Game goes dark and maybe each shot hit lights up a certain portion of the playfield to capture Michael? Game comes back to life?

We were getting 100% rejects on the scoop and it was insanely frustrating.
Made this scoop hood from PETG and the majority of direct shots from the flipper now actually go in the scoop

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Might try that!

Not sure if it’s normal but my game’s callout are insanely loud ( I have to turn the volume down to like 2 or three bars to tolerate it). Music is very quiet, but the noise when a ball is saved is also really loud compared to other sound effects. I haven’t seen anyone mention it so I was guessing the amp settings on mine are just turned too high but I keep forgetting to look when I’ve had the playfield up (can’t see the knobs from the coin door). It would be nice to be able to adjust music, callout, and sound effects volume attenuation through menu options.

If that works, I'll take one!

Same issue over here, I just assumed it was a code issue with the assets.

I'd be interested in this too if you did a small run!