# SDTM Exclusive: Houdini pinball gameplay Part 3

**Source:** Straight Down the Middle  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2017-06-18  
**Duration:** 13m 5s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skiNism2z98

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## Analysis

Straight Down the Middle presents exclusive Houdini Master of Mystery gameplay footage, showcasing the machine's circus-themed playfield, multiball modes, and advanced audio system. The hosts discuss American Pinball's single-model pricing strategy at $7,000 MSRP, the contemporary backbox design with multiple speaker components, and praise the thematic audio integration and contemporary aesthetic.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Houdini Master of Mystery has an MSRP of $7,000 — _SDTM hosts discussing the machine directly during gameplay; stated as 'seven Bell I think it's a pretty good deal for this thing is loaded for seven thousand dollars'_
- [HIGH] American Pinball is releasing Houdini as a single-model machine with no tiered versions (no Pro/Premium/LE variants) — _Hosts note: 'they said one model on one machine yep' in reference to American Pinball's approach, contrasting with other manufacturers' tiered systems_
- [MEDIUM] Houdini's audio system uses multiple tweeters and sub components routed to the front of the cabinet, including six speaker elements — _Host references JAL Bolster talk: 'they pulled the subwoofer out of the cabinet and they utilized all the different tweeters and sub components right up front' and 'I think Josh said it had six yeah'_
- [MEDIUM] The Houdini backbox design with side lighting and wave speakers initially seemed questionable but looks contemporary and fits the circus theme well — _Host reflects: 'the first time I saw picks for it the back box with the with the speakers and stuff coming out with the wave I thought I don't know about that now that I'm seeing in person it looks really contemporary up-to-date'_
- [HIGH] Houdini features a vanishing elephant illusion mode and a swallowing needles illusion mode — _Gameplay narration: 'we seen this these next illusion will be to make a 12,000 pound circus elephant vanish' and 'the malnutrition one is now look people watch our tale because radius now pretend' followed by 'before his famous swallowing needles illusion'_

### Notable Quotes

> "it's electronic stuff now that the kids are listening to it I guess"
> — **SDTM host**, end of segment
> _Commentary on modern music style in pinball; reflects on contemporary audio design trends_

> "the first time I saw picks for it the back box with the with the speakers and stuff coming out with the wave I thought I don't know about that now that I'm seeing in person it looks really contemporary up-to-date now actually fits the theme really well"
> — **SDTM host**, mid-segment
> _Design evolution perspective; shows how seeing hardware in person changes perception of aesthetic choices_

> "I think that's it probably wouldn't look as good with a different theme this theme because of the circus"
> — **SDTM host**, mid-segment
> _Reinforces thematic integration of Houdini's design; design cohesion with circus aesthetic_

> "the music is awesome and it's it puts you right in the mood there to play a mysterious game like no download the music yeah yeah"
> — **SDTM host**, gameplay section
> _Highlights audio impact on gameplay experience and thematic immersion_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Houdini Master of Mystery | game | Pinball machine by American Pinball; circus/magic escape artist theme; focal point of this gameplay video |
| American Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Houdini Master of Mystery; boutique pinball manufacturer |
| Straight Down the Middle | content_creator | YouTube/video channel covering pinball gameplay; produced this Houdini footage |
| Flipping Out Pinball | company | Pinball distributor and retailer; sponsor of this episode; sells machines including Houdini and Dialed In |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer; Dialed In mentioned as available through Flip Out sponsor |
| Chicago Gaming Company | company | Pinball manufacturer; mentioned for their Attack for Moms remake |
| Dialed In! | game | Jersey Jack Pinball machine; mentioned as available through sponsor |
| Attack for Moms | game | Chicago Gaming Company remake; mentioned in sponsorship context |
| JAL Bolster | person | Referenced as having given talk about Houdini's audio engineering/speaker configuration; likely American Pinball designer or engineer |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Houdini Master of Mystery gameplay and mechanics, Pinball audio design and speaker systems, Backbox and cabinet aesthetic design
- **Secondary:** American Pinball pricing and product strategy, Tiered product models in pinball manufacturing, Circus and magic theme integration
- **Mentioned:** Contemporary vs. retro design in pinball

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Hosts express genuine enthusiasm for Houdini's design, audio, gameplay, and overall quality. Initial skepticism about backbox design is overcome by in-person viewing. Pricing at $7k is framed positively ('pretty good deal'). No significant criticisms or concerns raised.

### Signals

- **[product_launch]** Exclusive gameplay footage of Houdini Master of Mystery being shown by SDTM, indicating machine is close to or at release/availability stage (confidence: high) — Full gameplay sequences with named modes (elephant vanish, needle swallowing) and clear playfield visibility
- **[design_innovation]** Houdini features an advanced multi-component speaker system with six speaker elements distributed across cabinet front rather than traditional backbox placement (confidence: medium) — Host reference to JAL Bolster discussion: 'they pulled the subwoofer out of the cabinet and they utilized all the different tweeters and sub components right up front'
- **[design_philosophy]** American Pinball prioritized thematic integration with contemporary aesthetic; backbox wave design and speaker routing chosen to serve circus/magic theme (confidence: medium) — Host observation: backbox 'probably wouldn't look as good with a different theme this theme because of the circus' and 'fits the theme really well'
- **[product_strategy]** American Pinball is releasing Houdini as a single production model at $7,000 MSRP, with no Pro/Premium/Limited Edition variants unlike competitors (confidence: high) — Direct quote: 'they said one model on one machine yep' contrasted with 'a lot of companies doing different tiered systems'
- **[gameplay_signal]** Houdini includes multiple named illusion modes (elephant vanishing, needle swallowing) with multiball sequences, suggesting deep rule complexity and thematic gameplay (confidence: high) — Gameplay narration clearly identifies specific illusion-themed modes and multiball activation sequences
- **[content_signal]** Straight Down the Middle producing exclusive gameplay content for Houdini through partnership/access with American Pinball and Flip Out Pinball (confidence: high) — Video title 'SDTM Exclusive: Houdini pinball gameplay Part 3' indicates ongoing exclusive access; sponsorship integration
- **[sentiment_shift]** Host's initial skepticism about Houdini's backbox wave design reversed by in-person viewing, now sees it as contemporary and thematically appropriate (confidence: high) — Host explicit arc: 'the first time I saw picks for it...I thought I don't know about that now that I'm seeing in person it looks really contemporary up-to-date'

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## Transcript

this episode of SDTM is sponsored by flipping out pinball flipping out pinball provides the best pinball machines and accessories out there whether you're looking for a family machine or you're an enthusiast looking to add to your collection flipping out pinball is the place to find jersey jack pinball machines like the all-new dialed-in or chicago gaming company's new remake of attack for moms or american pin balls Houdini master of mystery coal airy now for your next pinball purchase at WWF lip and out pinball calm [Music] magician tool it's your turn all right 4,500 [Music] Oh No save me now you're Jane whenever 20 [Music] logician 1 it's your turn [Music] Nisha [Music] we seen this these next illusion will be to make a 12,000 pound circus elephant vanish Locke is live Meechum he was locked [Music] to your memory shoot the flashing locked our motivo oh the planchette to start since [Music] Oh multiball is live the sales and your friend to speak to the dead [Music] the world [Music] check [Music] was a success [Music] watch carefully as I walk this elephant into this giant crate and when I open it he vanish the ocean grabs three times and dat'll the stage there was I think it was the vanishing ball [Music] No [Music] logician tool it's your turn yeah that's a ladder even trying at this point you can do it only it lit up like you did that looks like soju oh no not that [Music] Johnny shows [Music] I don't know why everybody this is a five shot I think it looks tighter than I find the jumper is harder for me did that all right [Music] the malnutrition one is now look people watch our tale because radius now pretend [Music] that's a tough as you can see I had an empty hat we now have like five minimal minute next before his famous swallowing needles illusion lock is lit [Music] you [Music] is lit I like that American in the poll Houdini when it comes to like sir and Aerosmith thrown that ball on the truth let me show you how to do it - throw it up the entire play filter magician - writes your turn there's no down 140,000 oh man no I can't Larry Oh spinner to open the magic shop I'll take the Zubin Mehta is a compote this amine come back [Music] Oh well thank you bye MSRP on this tip seven Bell I think it's a pretty good deal for this thing is loaded for seven thousand dollars more to come I'm sure now we see a lot of companies doing different tiered systems whether it's the regular le and stuff they said one model on one machine yep and I've been with them that there's what do you need on this machine there's nothing else you need just programs more fine-tuned a couple things yeah they've got plenty of time for that so it's really a nice game and then the cabinet's beautiful they're going to put the lights on the side of or are they so yeah bring a stage now be I'll be transparent here the first time I saw picks for it the backbox with the with the speakers and stuff coming out with the wave I thought I don't know about that now that I'm seeing in person it looks really contemporary up-to-date now actually fits the theme really well I think that's it probably wouldn't look as good with a different theme this theme because of the circus yeah I think I was listened to one of JAL bolsters talks and he said that they pulled I think it was Joe if not it was somebody that worked for American pinball but they pulled the subwoofer out of the cabinet and they utilized all the different tweeters and sub components right up front there so you can actually hear it I think if I recall correctly I think Josh said it had six yeah so it's got sound it's not just two channels stereo this thing is well when we were play and I thought that was the one thing that was just so true to me was its tense the music is awesome and it's it puts you right in the mood there to play a mysterious game like no download the music yeah yeah it's electronic stuff now that the kids are listening to it I guess all right guys will will throw it back hopefully we get some more gameplay on this but thanks for checking out straight down the middle gameplay on Houdini with lariat flipping out pinball

_(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 6d7301e6-4973-446b-840f-75162ca691cb*