# New Halloween Code Contains a Surprise Addition **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2022-03-07 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/new-halloween-code-contains-a-surprise-addition --- ## Analysis Spooky Pinball released code update Version 1.06 for their Halloween machine, adding new multiball modes and a licensed Blue Oyster Cult song ('Don't Fear the Reaper'). A concurrent update for Ultraman added full-screen clips. The article notes this mirrors Stern's approach with Guardians of the Galaxy, which initially shipped without iconic movie songs and added them via updates. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Spooky Pinball released code update Version 1.06 for Halloween pinball machine — _Direct statement from article header and opening paragraph_ - [HIGH] Version 1.06 adds new multiball modes and Blue Oyster Cult's 'Don't Fear the Reaper' to Halloween — _Explicit statement in article body with song title and artist name_ - [HIGH] Spooky released concurrent code update for Ultraman with new full-screen clips — _Second paragraph states 'Spooky also released a code update for Halloween's sister game Ultraman that contains new much-requested full screen clips'_ - [MEDIUM] Stern Pinball's Guardians of the Galaxy initially shipped without many iconic movie songs and added them via code update — _Author's aside referencing historical precedent; stated as memory/comparison rather than verified fact_ - [HIGH] Jackbar (Williamsburg Brooklyn's Premiere Dive and Pinball Bar) has Halloween on location with new code installed — _Author notes venue has 'Halloween on location with the new code installed' and provides venue URL_ ### Notable Quotes > "The code contains new multiball modes and a surprise addition (at least for me)...a licensed song." > — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A > _Highlights the unexpected nature of the song licensing addition to the code update_ > "Blue Oyster Cult's tune 'Don't Fear the Reaper' is now in the game. That's pretty cool." > — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A > _Confirms the specific licensed song addition and expresses positive sentiment about it_ > "This reminds me of back in the day when Stern Pinball launched Guardians of the Galaxy pinball without many of the movie's iconic songs and everyone freaked out so they added more in a code update." > — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, N/A > _Contextualizes current update within broader industry pattern of post-launch audio licensing additions_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Spooky Pinball | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer releasing Halloween and Ultraman machines; recently issued code updates | | Halloween | game | Spooky Pinball machine receiving code update v1.06 with new multiball modes and licensed song | | Ultraman | game | Spooky Pinball machine receiving concurrent code update with full-screen clips; described as 'sister game' to Halloween | | Blue Oyster Cult | organization | Rock band whose song 'Don't Fear the Reaper' was licensed for Halloween pinball machine | | Don't Fear the Reaper | product | Licensed Blue Oyster Cult song added to Halloween pinball via v1.06 code update | | Stern Pinball | company | Referenced as precedent for adding music to games post-launch via code updates (Guardians of the Galaxy example) | | Guardians of the Galaxy | game | Stern Pinball machine that shipped without many iconic movie songs; songs were added via code update | | Slam Tilt Podcast | organization | Podcast where author made guest appearance and heard about Halloween song update from Ron and Bruce | | Ron | person | Co-host of Slam Tilt Podcast; informed author about Halloween song addition | | Bruce | person | Co-host of Slam Tilt Podcast; informed author about Halloween song addition | | Jon | person | Associated with Jackbar Brooklyn; reminded author about Halloween update news via post | | Jackbar | organization | Williamsburg Brooklyn dive bar and pinball venue with Halloween machine on location running latest code | | Knapp Arcade | person | Article author; guest on Slam Tilt Podcast; pinball industry observer/content creator | ### Topics - **Primary:** Code updates and post-launch improvements, Music licensing in pinball games, Spooky Pinball product development, Halloween and Ultraman pinball machines - **Secondary:** Pinball venue recommendations, Stern vs boutique manufacturer comparison ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Author expresses enthusiasm about code update ('That's pretty cool'), appreciates Spooky's effort to improve games post-launch, and promotes local venue positively. Tone is celebratory rather than critical. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Spooky Pinball responding to player requests and continuously updating games based on feedback (multiball modes described as 'much-requested' for Ultraman) (confidence: high) — Ultraman update 'contains new much-requested full screen clips' indicating community feedback incorporation - **[market_signal]** Industry pattern of post-launch music licensing additions becoming normalized; Stern set precedent with Guardians of the Galaxy, now Spooky following similar path with Halloween (confidence: medium) — Author's aside explicitly comparing Spooky's approach to Stern's historical precedent: 'This reminds me of back in the day when Stern Pinball launched Guardians of the Galaxy pinball without many of the movie's iconic songs and everyone freaked out so they added more in a code update' - **[licensing_signal]** Spooky successfully securing music licensing (Blue Oyster Cult 'Don't Fear the Reaper') for pinball game, demonstrating licensing capability parity with larger manufacturers (confidence: high) — Licensed song now in-game; article explicitly notes it as 'a licensed song' that was added - **[product_strategy]** Spooky Pinball iteratively improving Halloween machine post-launch with multiball modes and licensed music addition (confidence: high) — Version 1.06 code update with new multiball modes and Blue Oyster Cult song licensing --- ## Transcript The folks at Spooky Pinball have been hard at work improving the code for the company's new Halloween pinball machine. They recently launched a new code update, Version 1.06, for Halloween. The code contains new multiball modes and a surprise addition (at least for me)...a licensed song. Blue Oyster Cult's tune “Don’t Fear the Reaper” is now in the game. That's pretty cool. Aside ---- This reminds me of back in the day when Stern Pinball launched Guardians of the Galaxy pinball without many of the movie's iconic songs and everyone freaked out so they added more in a code update. Spooky also released a code update for Halloween's sister game Ultraman that contains new much-requested full screen clips. I actually heard about the new Halloween song song yesterday from Ron and Bruce during my guest appearance on the fantastic Slam Tilt Podcast (more on that in a couple of days). But I'll give credit where credit is due to Jon from "Williamsburg Brooklyn's Premiere Dive and Pinball Bar" Jackbar for reminded me about the news in a recent post and he shared the graphic below. Jackbar is a great pinball venue in Brooklyn, NYC. They have Halloween on location with the new code installed so get over there, grab a beer, drop in a few quarters and check the latest update out. https://www.jackbarbk.com/ _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 4a5a1a8c-4e9d-4cfb-a971-a2499e3c0890*