Hey X-Files fans, just joined the club myself a few months ago. I love the show -- on my favorites as a teenager -- and fell in love with the pin at Free Play Florida in November. I was considering bringing a new game home, and the theme & gameplay of the pinball really grabbed me ... so now I own it! It had dim & ghosting LEDs when I got it, which I've since swapped out with nice non-ghosting ones, so now it's beautiful and I can finally understand what's going on, lol.

I agree with some of the comments I've seen that many of the shots are tough because they're narrow -- but I find that makes a shot all the more satisfying when you hit it. Plus, there's a lot to do on this game, between the two different multiballs and all the different 'X-file' modes. With seven different lanes to shoot for -- some of which can have multiple exit points (e.g., orbit -> orbit or pops; ramps -> normal exit or sneakouts; left ramp -> left or right inlanes), I feel there's a lot to do and it's always fresh and challenging.

If anyone ever runs into a problem where the ball gets stuck in the filing cabinet, it may be because the edge of the cabinet broke off down below the playfield.
I ran into this issue when I first got the machine, but I was able to resolve it. More info on the issue & my fix are here: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/x-files-ball-getting-stuck-in-filing-cabinet

Finally, just thought I'd share a toy I added -- I found a nice hi-fidelity Todd McFarlane-designed X-Files action figure (reference https://mcfarlane.com/toys/docile-alien/ ) and picked one up on ebay for under $10. He/she/it fits perfectly in the spiral of the right ramp, so it balances out the toy arrangement (fetus on the left, cabinet in the middle, alien on the right), and makes for a cool effect when the ball spirals around it when you hit that ramp. The lighting on it is also nice (not shown well in these pics since I used the flash on some) as it's generally lit from below but also occasionally by the flasher in the top right corner.

good balance with a toy on the right side too

a more detailed look

without flash to try to show normal lighting

Thanks, I figured there'd be some other owners out there who might want the same! I considered getting a Mulder & Scully too but I wasn't sure where I'd put them plus didn't have the funds to drop on them at the time anyway. Thanks for the tip on the sound -- I haven't looked into anything like that yet. I have a separate project machine I'm working on right now so that'll be getting most of my pinball funds at the moment!

Is there a definitive 'list' of all the differences between playing as Mulder or Scully? I know the primary difference is Scully works more easily toward Truth multiball and Mulder toward Cabinet multiball, but I wonder if there are any other subtle ones too.

For example, this rules post (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/proud-new-owner-of-an-x-files/page/3#post-2230183) explains that the Talitha Cumi mode flashes the location of the hidden stiletto during the intro. Since reading it, I've seen this in action, and it made this mode easy. Until today, when I was playing as Scully -- Talitha Cumi was chosen, I looked down at the playfield and ALL FOUR shots were still flashing. So, if you're Mulder do you get this helpful hint, but not if you're Scully?

And so this made me wonder -- what other little differences are there?

You know, now I'm not even so sure about this ... my son was playing and he SAID he'd chosen Scully, but when he started Talitha Cumi, it was showing the one specific location this time. He's five, though, so perhaps not the most reliable witness... Will have to continue watching for this.

Ooh, tell me more about these please!

Perhaps have a look at whatever makes it pop closed when it's up and it gets hit by the ball? I don't know if it's a switch or what ... but when the trapdoor is up, and the ball touches it from above, it's supposed to drop just long enough to keep the ball moving. I haven't looked at it so I don't know if it's a switch or whatever -- but perhaps on yours this switch is maladjusted and always telling the door top pop closed.

Just an idea.

I was never really a fan of the other instruction cards out there, so I made my own. I tried to explain the rules more clearly for beginners. You can have the cards if you want -- download the full res version and the original PSD files (if you want to modify them) at https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pnMaN7X_W3A441Xan2BwmS0HaPNPKJNQ ... note, they're sized to be printed at a shop on 4x6 prints, then you trim off the green border.
X-Files_Card1 (resized).jpgX-Files_Card2 (resized).jpg
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Thanks, glad you liked em. A great improvement over the illegible and nonsensical other ones out there.

I've been curious which callouts came from which episodes ... has anyone documented this?

I recently watched 'The Host' (Season 2 Episode 2) and a handful are from that episode:

- "You're way out of line, Agent Mulder!"
- "Success in our work is imperative, Scully."
- "We have a friend in the FBI."
- and of course (since it kicks off that mode), "It's called a 'fluke'. It came from the body they pulled out of the sewer."

Season 2 Episode 3, 'Blood' -- Mulder: "I think this area is being subjected to a controlled experiment."

"Your resignation is unacceptable. " --
Season 2 Episode 8

"Your investigation is faltering."
-Season 2 Episode 15

"Your investigation, official or otherwise, is terminated!"
-- Season 2, Episode 16, 'Colony'

"Whatever happened to 'trust no one', Mulder?"
"I changed it to 'trust everyone'. I didnt tell you?"
- Season 2, Episode 16, 'Colony'

"No one got in ... but someone got out."
Season 2 Episode 20, 'Humbug'

"Who do you answer to?!"
and
"I dont know how to explain it."
Season 2 Episode 23

(as you can see, I've been working my way through Season 2 lately, lol)

"Sure...fine...whatever."
S3 E13, 'Syzygy' (obviously)

"Probably not a good idea to hide in there."
and
"This sounds like something we might've expected from Agent Mulder."
- Season 4 Episode 1, 'Herrenvolk'

""I dont utter another syllable until a CSM 25 countermeasure filter is activated."
-S4 E7, Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man

I had this problem shortly after I got mine too -- here's how I fixed it: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/x-files-ball-getting-stuck-in-filing-cabinet

Non-ghosting LEDs will do the trick. Mine came with LEDs that ghosted so badly I had no idea what the hell I was supposed to be doing. Bought some non-ghosting ones from comet, worked perfectly, suddenly everything made sense!

Poor Queequeg...

Added my green posts to my X-Files and they look siiiiick

Screenshot_20201024-183337_Chrome (resized).jpg

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1282-rocket-city-pinball/04369-bright-green-posts-for-accent-colors-on-playfields

Do keep us informed! How! When! Whaaaaat?

So thrilled you're doing this, Chad, especially as a recent owner of JP DE with your awesome code there. I'll brainstorm and see if I can come up with anything.

In addition to the improvement of the sound clips, one thing I hope you DON'T change is how mode timers pause when the ball is up in the pop bumpers -- that's a great feature.

I love this game but I was beginning to consider selling it to get another wishlist game ... but with new Chad code coming, I'm holding onto it!

Hey fellow X-Files owners ... I've been having a ton of fun making these new products, and since I own this game, naturally I had to make this one too...

There are plain old original stock coin reject buttons ... then there are aftermarket coin reject buttons with flat 2-D patterns -- I'm taking it to the next dimension with these new 3-D Coin Reject Buttons!

X-Files_1_RCP (resized).jpg

These eye-catching buttons literally pop out at you! They're 3D-printed with multiple filaments, including a translucent base color of your choice and a creepy gray alien protruding from the button face! The eyes are colored with black ink to give it a more lifelike appearance. Honestly, I'm thrilled with how this one turned out! Spooky Mulder would be proud.

I immediately thought to print these in green, to match up with the green in the game ... but I really think yellow will look great too, since there's a lot of yellow on the front face of the cabinet. I'll post some pictures of the yellow version after I print some.

X-Files_2_RCP (resized).jpg

Available on my website (https://rocketcitypinball.com) or in my shop here on Pinside (https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1282-rocket-city-pinball/04870-3d-coin-reject-buttons-x-files). (My daughter gets a commission too; these 3D buttons were her idea!)

Installation instructions video coming soon, but this button type is ridiculously easy ... two screws and the bezel comes loose so you can swap out the button.
Simple as that! Note: please check your game before ordering -- this button replaces button type 891-1113-01; reimports, modded/swapped coin doors, etc. may have different button types. Compare to my pictures to be sure this is the correct one for yours.

Welcome to the club! I love this game and all those mini-modes. The 2-ball mode (Syzygy) isn't timed (that I know of), it runs as long as both the balls are still on the table. Either that or I've never lasted long enough to time out, lol

Hey X Files friends ... per a recent request I adapted my alien head 3D Coin Reject Buttons over to a Launch Button. But, even better, I finally decided to take the leap and work out the conversion of the boring non-lighted Start Button to my lit 3D Start Button!

LaunchButton (resized).jpg

ReplaceThis (resized).jpg

XF_starts_RCP (resized).jpg

The start button conversion is very easy and takes less than 10 minutes -- and requires NO SOLDERING. I include everything you need in a kit:

LightedKitRCP (resized).jpg

In a nutshell, you're tapping into power at the coin reject buttons, and moving the start button's microswitch over to the new housing assembly. It's a simple as that! Here's a video to show the whole process:

Some pics of the different colors installed -- none of which really do them justice, since we all know LEDs don't photograph well or true to color.

GreenXF_RCP (resized).jpg

YellowXF_RCP (resized).jpg

PurpleXF_RCP (resized).jpg

While I'm thrilled to have finally done this mod for my machine, I'm also sad because in all likelihood I'll have to say goodbye to this game soon -- I'm in line for a Rush Premium and I'll need to trade this game in to afford it. I do love this game and theme, but aside from the others I'm trading in, the rest are bolted to the floor so X Files was the next-lowest on the totem pole.

All items available in my shop:
Start: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1282-rocket-city-pinball/05585-3d-start-button-lighted-kit-the-x-files
Coins: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1282-rocket-city-pinball/04870-3d-coin-reject-buttons-x-files
Launch: https://pinside.com/pinball/market/shops/1282-rocket-city-pinball/05566-3d-launch-button-the-x-files

AllYellowXF-RCP (resized).jpg

I'm a monster of the week fan too.

A couple that come to mind but not by title lol
- Flukeman, of course
- The werewolf one -- the scene where it's mauling someone in the background while in the foreground you're seeing a drink jostle around on the porch, that stuck with me for a long time
- the satanist cult evil devil lady at the school (remember the pig dissection scene?)
- the circus freakshow
- the Giovanni ribisi lightning one
-

So excited to see Chad finally has the game ... so sad that I no longer have mine.

Good luck Chad, make it awesome!

I knew you'd finally get around to making these updates and I'd regret having sold mine....

Data East Jurassic Park too, phenomenal job. I was sad to sell X Files when it was initially rumored that Chad was going to work on the code, but it was lowest on the totem pole at the time. And that's not a bad thing, XF is an awesome game! I do miss it, hence why I'm still lurking around here lol