Intersting observation; you may be on to something. I'm not at my games; is the Stern panel offset via some spacers, or is it just how the backbox is built?

It's how the panel is built. It's obviously on purpose.

It just jumps out at me now, with Stern and Spooky games side-by-side.

RM

I kinda feel like it's the gap between the screen protector and actual screen. Someone had posted while back where they removed the protector and how it made visuals lot better

You are 100% correct, Russ. The displays that Spooky uses have a narrow viewing angle and unless you are looking at the screen straight on, the image will look like shit with washed out colors, improper contrast, etc.

I had once looked at modifying the back box, moving the center brace back to improve the viewing angle on the display. But I procrastinated and I eventually came upon some info here (and in the Ultraman Owners thread) about folks doing IPS display upgrades. I went that route a couple months ago and could not be happier. I highly recommend it.

This is the display / HDMI Controller I went with:

IPS Display: https://a.co/d/1ppC4NV

HDMI Display Driver: https://a.co/d/6YNt82R

I will say that my Halloween display now looks even better than my two Stern machines.

Did you turn this down in the menu, or physically on the motor? I haven't noticed it in the menu before, and would love to turn mine down.
Thanks

Does anyone know if the clip of Michael and the phone wrapped around Linda is in the game? That's another great video asset (Not family safe) that could be added.

Part of it is in when you make the hurry up shot when you beat the Boy and Lynda mode I believe

I just manually did it by adjusting the shaker motor weights. Actually have it on the lowest setting and think it's good there, still shakes well and it doesn't rattle the heck out of the machine.

I’m still getting a false switch trigger sometimes. I have put the machine in switch test and hit the playfield but no false triggers. I have noticed that sometimes the upper Michael will pop out and it shows a ball was locked even when I haven’t hit it. I checked the connections on the transmitter and receiver but didn’t see anything out of place. Do these optos get flakey sometimes. Is it usually the transmitter or receiver that fail? It is aligned well and appears clean. Just trying to figure out what to order. Thanks!

Perhaps checking and changing the opto for the upper Michael might be needed if it's randomly going off.

Do people usually change both transmitter and receiver or is one part more prone to failure?

I would run tests first, for the hedge mikes, I would run the Subway test with a ball and be rolling around a ball having it go in the scoop of that Mike and see how it's registering or if anything is triggering it.

Usually, it's the transmitter that fails. With some digital cameras/cell phone cameras, you can see the light from the LED on the transmitter just like any other LED. This is the first thing I check for when I suspect an opto issue.

I put the machine in switch test last night and just let it sit. After a few minutes it started going crazy with the hedge lock 3 switch very rapidly which is what I was suspecting anyway. So it is now confirmed that the opto for that scoop needs to be replaced. Now to get the parts. Interesting info about the phone camera being able to see the LED. I had not heard that before.

Unfortunately that trick stopped working with newer models a while ago because they now use ir filters, supposedly to block pictures through clothes.

1.15 this week? Yea I know it's just a polish/bug patch but always exciting.

Potential new stuff / changes for 1.16 or going into 1.2 maybe? hmmmm

Looking at picking up a routed CE with not many plays as it was mentioned as a dog of an earner. The gold has worn off on the trim. Did Spooky do anything to remedy this? Any failure prone mechanisms outside of the diverter bounce back issue.

Big thanks!

I just wanted to thank everyone at Spooky Pinball for their excellent customer service! I had an issue with my shaker motor and contacted AJ. He was able to send out the necessary parts to get it working again! Best pinball company out there in my opinion! Thanks again to the whole team at Spooky!

Spooky replaced armor for free to those those that requested it. I and others applied our own clear coat to prevent the issue and that worked for me. In you're case you would need to purchase new armor from Spooky or have new powder coat applied.

The servos on the hedge Michael’s are known to fail. Sounds like it is a cheap easy replacement but mine are still going strong.

I never had the diverter bounce back issue either but there is an adjustment added to the settings to dial it in now.

Only issues I’ve had are needing to replace an LED and the ball got stuck in elevator above the right flipper once. Took me 1min to replace the LED and about 15min to fix the elevator.

The top playfield may need to be dialed in. A single shot should be able to figure 8 through the top loop back to the flipper and if the flipper is still up continue up to the left loop back around to the flipper… and repeat. Upper playfield is super fun when that is dialed in. When it isn’t it can feel like a mess.

I was a NIB Halloween buyer and it is still the most played game in my collection. Add an external sub and play it in a dark room and it is a great immersive experience.

This is extremely helpful and thank you. I am looking forward to it. My first play on it in a tournament with early code was frustrating but after watching a few videos it looks like a lot of fun. This will be my first Spooky adding to Stern and CGC.

I believe the upper ramp over bridge shot is one if not the best most rewarding shot in pinball.

Yeah I involuntarily yell “BOOM!” and fist pump every damn time I hit it. Lol

Agreed it is very very rewarding

Yep, same with upper Michael, right orbit and Judith shot
Pretty cool how the ball sways on the magnet before it drops, I do hit the bridge shot easily though thank god!

The diverter bounce back can happen even with it working. The center ramp design has a very strict range in which you can hit, slightly off or strong hit can have the ball just bounce and roll back down the ramp. Really it's just kind of how the center ramp was designed as the diverter is right there and makes the shot a tough one to make. The servos on the Michaels is the most common issue, mostly a cosmetic thing outside of one mode but new set of servos to upgrade is 10 bucks. Rest of the game is pretty solid.

Would any of you with a Butter Cab risk taking your machine to a show? I would like to share my Halloween at the Louisville Arcade Expo, but its a beautiful shiny butter cab.

Nope. Too much risk loading and unloading.

No, it shouldn’t do that.

Check your game has the metal flap at the top of the U-bend in the ramp.

This should stop the ball coming back down (if it makes it up)

If not - it’s a possibility the flap is bouncing the ball back down. Give it a bend either way to see if that helps.

I can make the centre ramp easily with either flipper - I played a well used UM today and could do it on that game as well, no problems.

rd

My centre shot has got better with use, I think that metal flap has softened a bit to help it get up top. Can get up there with both flippers too.

I can also get the ball back down sometimes while hitting the figure 8 shot, now and again with upper flipper it will go back down getting past the metal flap.
I could lower the flap a bit but I know that will make it harder for the ball to get in, fine tuned it enough now and good enough.

Never had a problem with the diverter from new, have changed all the Michael servo’s. Noticed one has Parkinson’s so that will need changing again soon.

When does everyone think we will see code 1.15?

Has anyone successfully been able to get their backglass signed with a decent quality marker? My buddy paid extra to meet John Carpenter somewhere and said he could take something from the machine with him to it signed. Based on this thread, it sounds like the knife is the best option. I was thinking maybe the play cards as well. But the back glass sure would be badass.

Code was being tested a few weeks ago, so imagine soon?

Can't wait to try this without knocking down drops to start another mode. There are just so many things to do mode wise in the game, that I hate restarting with drops. I usually only get 1 mode, multiball or Judith per game before it's over anyway.

That's changing?

I felt like it was, Matt wanted our opinion on how we would like it to function.

I did the LCD upgrade earlier today, with the linked components from this thread. They don’t fit exactly the same, but I made it work. Oh MAN what a difference! Makes the video really pop. Highly recommended

Ah, think they just were taking ideas for possible future. 1.15 should be a bug fix/polish update, but don't think any major game changes are happening.

I do hope there is some changes for future updates though, such as polishing up the scoring and maybe some other ideas folks have tossed around.

Yes I’m big on score balancing.

Don’t you worry, Kemp won’t get any rest till that happens.

rd

What is that sound suppose to be at the end, mine sounds like a crying chimpanzee.…anyone else hearing what I am hearing…and because of that I cant not un hear it that sound is grating as it doesn’t seem to fit the game what is that sound clip suppose to sound like? Anyone?

Thanks!

It’s Laurie from the movie scene.

Thank you, I guess there is no chance that sound clip is leaving the game…

Love the game...TOTALLY hate that sound!!!

I’m surprised they haven’t just changed that to the basic sound effect instead of the clip from the movie. It could be done.

Definitely needs some balancing. Was playing the other day. I completed Let Me In but missed the last hurry up. Total for the mode was a bit over 1.7 million. The skill shot for hitting only the center target is 1.5, in that mode you have to hit the single lit drop 3 times and 2 orbits.

HES COMING HOME TOMORROW!!!

anything I should look for as a new spooky owner with this title ??

Plug it in, and play it! Report back your love!

What did you do to get it mounted? Any pics?

Bought Halloween for my wife and never saw the movie when it arrived. I asked the same question about the monkey. Saw the movie finally and no monkey. Definitely not a fan of that sound. Great game, even though not a huge fan of the movie. Crazy I never saw it till recently and I am 53 years old.

Yes that monkey sound sucks, makes no sense. Needs to be changed

Oddly, it seems burned in to the board. Its been there since day one. Probably trolling us with a magic update on this haha!