Munsters Code Suggestions for Dwight

I've had good luck emailing Stern over the years, however all the emails were focused on very specific concerns/issues. I also tried hard to direct the email to the right person. Emailing Chas for the issues discussed in this thread is off target.

The issue of making Munsters "better" is too general. I'm sure Stern reps are thinking...if you don't like the game, don't buy it!

The 3 year in development KISS update was more actionable, since the KISS "cities" were totally unimplemented. Fortunately, this dropped ball enabled *someone* at Stern to make magic happen (the update totally transformed the game...).

This is a naive idea. For one, the licensee's don't want arbitrary, unmanaged changes to a game. In general, this would lead to an arbitrary number of versions of a game...impossible to support on many levels. The only way open source works is if folks contributing are being managed by the mothership (in this case, Stern). I was one of the open source pioneers in the mid-80's, and understand the development model.

I don't know if I'd go "that" far...but, I like Munsters as is...so does everyone that comes over and plays it...can they do better? I won't bitch if they do.
Typical pinside.. "I don't like it crap" so, I will post.
You all got to realize that most people don't take the time to say they like it, as much as posting that they don't..

Disclaimer:
Do I like Stern?...no
This is my 1st and LAST stern..for a variety of reasons.
I "knew" better..but they made my game...I won't be fooled again.

If only AFM and MM had just been remade and were available for sale new so we could test that theory.

And as we know, the AFM/MB/MM triumvirate continue to sell well and entertain. The demand is for fun...all of them are the total package.

Maybe the oldies are the “total package” for a dmd era machine, but not in the LCD era. If there wasn’t so much missing from the Munsters TV series LCD: meaning series TV show material, everyone wouldn’t be so upset. That’s the issue here. Munsters doesn’t have much in the way of theme tv series integration. That’s what we’re all upset about. Game play wise it’s every bit as fun as the oldies.

No doubt that having an LCD raises the bar for what's visible. LOTR and STTNG have intense theme integration with "dots". The choreography (i.e. integration of the sounds, callouts and "display") is outstanding for both LOTR and STTNG.

I owned Munsters briefly and it didn't have the chemistry that competes with classics like AFM/MB/MM. I grew up with Munsters and it's FUNNY (yet I didn't feel any of that humor when playing the game). AFM and MM both put many smiles on my face. MB is more like a rock and roll pin...all about the tunes, which make the game. Without the tunes, MB would be really "meh".

Listen, I respect all the folks that love Munsters. Just a title that didn't put smiles on my face and didn't challenge me. When I'm looking to own a game, I need to be entertained and/or challenged. Munsters did neither for me...no big deal.

Would be nice to have a way to relight Mystery. (Maybe Marilyn does this eventually?) Makes a perfect Super Jackpot game hard to target since Enlarging Ray is unlikely to see.

Please stay on topic (code suggestions). There are already three other threads to discuss pros and cons. Maybe first post should be updated with all added suggestions?

My suggestion is to make Midnight Madness a mode not dependent on time of day. Otherwise a lot of people will never see it (and changing time on the machine everytime is not a solution).

Would also suggest the very subtle change of making Herman require three hits to lit Herman multiball together with adding a 10 seconds ball save from starting a new ball. Made my game a lot more enjoyable.

Those award tables could use some work and should go way deeper. The idea though is to incorporate Eddie and Marilyn more while also adding in a bunch of sub-modes and things to see in longer games

Relighting Mystery should be an award somewhere on there for sure. I would also be OK with Dragula relighting Mystery after a certain number of times scoring it.

In general, I don't think a ton of extra complexity is necessary to make the game better.

Would be cool if a Wolfie mode was added. Maybe helping Eddie find Wolfie, chasing shots around the playfield. Reward could be a Wolfie multiball or a Wolfie super jackpot.

I have been loving all these awesome suggestions, but the deafening silence makes me think....

stern monkey's (resized).jpg

Ghostbusters owners have been waiting 29 months for Stern to properly finish the code. Might as well come back to this thread in 2 1/2 years lol. Seriously though I hope Stern addresses some of these concerns.

I'm enjoying the game but the more I play it the more the ZAP button feels so under used. At least in Star Wars you are basically using it to take down tie fighters. Here it just makes no sense. Hit targets, hit zap button, get jackpot. Other than hitting it to stop the flashing there is very little value.

I like the idea of using it for the drag race. Most people that play the game think they have to hit the button to start the drag race so people are already hitting it for that. Even just hitting at the right time for an added dragula modifier or something would be an improvement. Anything at all lol.

Other than that I agree with everyone else. Just polish and more clips for variety.

Still seeing new clips in the match sequence. Why all those clips there and so little in the game? For instance the clip with grandpa going up in smoke would fit perfectly in the game. Please add more theme integration!

Need to see some more iconic Munsters clips or images during game play, not at end of game.

1) Herman golfing... walking on the green
2) Herman pro wresting with a bag over his head. The expressions of people when he removes it.
3) Herman playing basketball
4) Lily at the fashion show
5) Herman playing baseball
6) Marilyn's dates when they meet her family
7) Herman riding a bull at the rodeo. I think Grandpa gets turned into a horse at that one, too.

The list goes on...

Another Mystery award = 15 seconds ball save

Thanks for the new code. It’s a real accomplishment. So great to have you listen tour ideas and promptly react and support a new machine. Way to go Stern! yeah! Rock on!! Woo hoo. You’re the best.

.......not

With my LE I am pretty much in the camp that what is already here on Munsters satisfies me. But what you say about the ZAP button is something I could get behind.

The caller tells me to "you better hit that ZAP button" and while i'm busy trying to keep a ball on the play field I dutifully reach for the ZAP button and I don't know what it is doing for me. Other than Dragula, I don't know what it does. It sure does not put out a lot of points that I am aware of.

As you hit the zap button it is charging up the zap meter which is increasing the zap jackpots when you hit them. Or at least that’s my understanding of what it’s doing.

I just don’t get how people can say that the game satisfies you. It could be so much more fun. The spirit of the show is barely captured at all. It’s very superficial. Where all the funny moments from the show?

I did not buy mine to watch the show. I bought it because it is a fast playing pin. With nice artwork and music. The entire video screen could disappear and would not bother me one bit; I realize I am probably a minority.

You’re definitely a minority. Most of us want Munsters to be given the same or similar treatment its contemporary was given, namely Batman 66. The game does play well now, but does not fully capture the 70+ episodes with fun Munster humor the way that it should. If Stern were to do that, it would become a blockbuster seller. We just need more show mode content to make a good machine, great! And not just at the end of a ball, but actually part of the game. Will really elevate this title when that is done and is the missing key ingredient.

For example:
1. Who doesn’t want to see Grandpa and Herman scheming in an actual dragula mode, with supporting scenes from the series.
2. Marilyn mode with her boyfriends afraid to knock on the door of the mansion only to find Herman, the big bash toy in front of them and they either bash him or run.
3. Many different Lilly modes, like in the kitchen preparing weird food items that are to be collected at different points on the table, so the family can sit down to dinner and eat.
4. Herman visiting Dr. Dudley Paul Lynde for a checkup with loop shots and ramp shots target hits to complete the checkup, all the while Dr. Dudley is performing the checkup on the screen.
5. Spot missing somewhere in the neighborhood and then family returning home, only to find spot had been under the stairs the whole time. He is bashed 5 times for being a bad dragon.
6. Raven has so many gags that could be done with him and in conjunction with the topper, it would be huge fun.
7. Zambo cereal ads showing at different times throughout the ball being trapped just before going into Grandpas lab basement.
8. Herman singing with Russians aboard a fishing ship, when he is discovered out at sea. With the family at home going up the stairs to get ready, then looping on the 180 ramp to get out to sea, with dragula, racing to the shipyards. All the while making loop shots to get out far enough on a boat to pick Herman up on the fishing trawler. The Russians and Herman singing is a real treat.

There are so many cool show intergrated things that could be done, it is a shame it hasn’t been done yet. But I have confidence that Stern and Dwight will do the right thing by Munsters, since it has everything else going for it. Now we just need theme integration similar to the many Batman episodes on Batman 66. Munsters will never get old in our homes if Stern puts this effort in, as they just did for GOT, GB, DP, and even more Batman 66 is still on the way. Come on Stern, give us fans what we’ve always wanted, please.

I want more modes. After completing Munster Madness, it feels a bit empty.

That’s exactly right. Stern missed the boat. This game could be so epic.

Munsters is currently #70 on the top 100 list. It will plummet soon without major new code and modes/videos. It’s only 70 because people are trying to boost the value of their machines. This is Stern’s biggest screwup in the past few years. It’s a great looking smooth fan layout with a great mini playfield. Software is a total dud.

If Stern would answer any emails or make a statement that they are working on Munsters code, it would be appreciated.

Code will have to be updated at some point to include different test modes for topper. Hopefully sooner than later. I think it would be nice to incorporate some of the ideas listed above, as well.... still love the game, and a crowd favorite...

It would be nice with a way to score big without having to use Kitty and Superjackpots. Some kind of alternative goal.

Just a heads up. From Dwight on tonight's GB code update stream "theres no plans to do a code update for Munsters".

UPDATE: Things are getting better every day now... Using the Pinball Browser program, I have spent many hours going thru the sound clips already included in the 1.0 code. There are TONS of them and many are applicable (no surprise) to various places in the game. I have replaced a lot of call-outs that I don't like or seem out of place (namely the Paul Lynde ones) with the authentic sound clips included. Now Grandpa says things when the mini playfield is active, and Herman says a lot of stuff along with Lily and Eddie. I'm finally starting to enjoy this thing! Since there IS so much content that isn't currently being used anywhere, I'm hopeful my efforts will simply satisfy me until the job is done professionally at Stern.

It would be cool if on start you select a character to play as (like on JJP POTC) with it's own perks.

Hear there are plenty of rumors Cousin Dwight is working on a large drop. Thought We should re open this thread to give him more ideas as some pretty knowledgeable pinheads are playing this game. Here are mine:

Clock Multiball: add a multi ball centered around the topper raven and clock usage

More creative use of the mini play field. Dwight got pretty creative with the GOT mini play field in the last drop. Looking for ideas here

More use of the raven in the topper/ snarky callouts

Add a third layer of modes in a similar fashion as Star Trek where you go 3 deep on each mode. Obviously more creative on each layer of each respective mode

Use every asset programmed in the code memory , callouts etc.

Don’t know, if it’s possible to implement, a video mode, shooting bats in the way like Space Invaders could be an idea…

Any possibility to see an update?

Yep.

I will believe it when I actually see Stern publicly state they are doing an update.