Halloween is a pinball machine designed and manufactured by Spooky Pinball, released in 2021 as a horror-themed title featuring three upper playfields and distinctive shooting mechanics. The game received strong initial community reception and sales performance, though it experienced quality control issues during production. It represents a significant title in Spooky's catalog and informed the company's design philosophy for subsequent horror-themed releases like Evil Dead.
No aliases
Halloween has scoop rejection issues on some units but not all
Halloween (Spooky) production was limited to approximately 500 units or fewer
Halloween is not held in high esteem by the broader pinball community despite having dedicated fans
Accessing Halloween's upper flipper mechanism requires removing multiple playfield layers due to triple-playfield design
Spooky Pinball horror machine; first real horror IP (vs. spooky) for the company. Quick commercial success that encouraged Spooky to pursue more intense horror licenses.
Jersey Jack game that previously exhibited gold powder coating lockdown bar discoloration issue
Spooky Pinball title; experiencing armor defect issues in clearcoat finish since early production; defect identified by Jack Barr; continues shipping with flaw ~1 year later
Spooky Pinball release; compared unfavorably to Scooby-Doo by Carl D'Angelo. Referenced as previous step-down in quality vs. Scooby.
Upcoming Spooky Pinball machine; announced recently; promised to be most complex playfield yet
Previous Spooky title; plagued by code quality issues including critical infinite-loop bug; serves as cautionary example in QC discussion
No linked glossary terms
The listed Halloween machine requires flipper adjustment and plastic replacement as minimum maintenance
Halloween's triple-playfield layout causes ball stalling and flow problems
Halloween contains Easter Eggs referencing Scooby-Doo
Asylum multiball can now be upgraded to three balls by hitting the super exit shot
Halloween had quality control issues with center ramp rejects in earlier production runs
The Dirty Pool shot is missing in 1.09 due to a code bug and will be restored
Halloween 1.09 includes remastered video clips that are longer and clearer than previous versions
First Kill is an upcoming expert mode for Halloween
A new diverter adjustment menu option can reduce center ramp rejects
Reviewers achieved 4-5 completed modes out of the available mode set, not yet reaching wizard mode progression
Early Halloween code versions contained overlaid character audio creating confusion between Dr. Loomis and Haddonfield callouts
The hidden subway flap mechanism in the in-lanes is a novel innovation that Spooky can iterate on in future designs
A third-party $180 aftermarket TV screen mod (shaped like the house) is considered a must-have accessory for Halloween
The game receives strong community criticism for playfield difficulty and layout, which the reviewers believe is unwarranted
Halloween has four ramps but only one wireform feeding down to the left, making it mechanically unique compared to other games
The left ramp scoop is extremely difficult to hit on many machines and can bounce balls back out
Code features non-linear mode progression where difficulty levels (easy/hard) utilize different playfield shots and require replay to unlock later modes
The cabinet art for Halloween is 'some of the nicest in all the industry'
Halloween has poor shot layout, weak rules, and subpar audio/visual production despite thematic appeal
Jack-o'-lantern mode completion redesign improves player experience and reduces frustration
Michael creep issue fixed by resetting position through left ramp switch and targets
House multiball and Robert T. 'Bob' Smith's Grove multiball are now repeatable (previously one-time modes)
Halloween Collector's Edition armor discolors from hand oils due to insufficient clear coat
Halloween pinball has weak playfield layout but strong cabinet art; upper playfield is difficult to access
Completing all lights in a Stalker Mode zone provides 5 million points
Stalker Mode's expert difficulty is high enough that casual completion while explaining the mode is challenging for developers
Stalker Mode features a one-minute timer and requires players to avoid Michael Myers while collecting lights in four playfield zones for massive jackpots
Stalker Mode represents the first time Halloween and Ultraman have expert modes with entirely different rule sets
Halloween pinball has significant software bugs including stuck modes and ball-tracking failures
Halloween pinball is universally disliked by high-end competitive players
Hard Jack-o'-lantern modes provide 5x jackpot multiplier when completed during main modes or +50% scoring when completed before
The Pretzel loop on the house playfield throws the ball back for additional shots when the flipper is held up
The dirty pool shot automatically opens the house playfield without needing to shoot the center ramp three times
The Collector's Edition of Halloween includes patient decals on Bob Smith's Grove targets
Halloween has three main modes: Hedge Multiball, Bob Smith's Grove, and House Attack
Easy Jack-o'-lantern modes provide 2x jackpot multiplier when completed during main modes or +20% scoring when completed before
Medium Jack-o'-lantern modes provide 3x jackpot multiplier when completed during main modes or +30% scoring when completed before
The Jack-o'-lantern mode scoring multiplier system is not yet implemented in the game but will be added soon with testing
Halloween pinball will be satisfying for home purchasers based on stream gameplay demonstration
Halloween pinball wizard mode will be available at release but full code depth will take months of post-release updates
Halloween pinball has three playfields with distinct gameplay: asylum (upper), hedge (with multiball option), and house (top right)
Each mode in Halloween pinball has unique UI, background, and animation sequences with animator Ryan Blitzke credited
The dirty pool shot is one of three ways to access the house playfield in Halloween; hits the target five times or shoot center ramp five times
Halloween pinball is based on the 1978 original film, not the 2018 sequel, with original score by Matt Montgomery
Recent release mentioned in list of games examined for mechanical innovation
Stern pinball game; Jason has limited experience with it (didn't love it, didn't hate it)
Spooky Pinball title; day-one sellout during COVID era; still brought to expos; discussed production challenges from 10 games/day build rate
Spooky Pinball title; Kaneda notes prices going up and predicts secondary market sales once Scooby-Doo ships
New Spooky Pinball game (unspecified release date); notably absent from the internet list despite being recent horror release
Spooky Pinball game currently on location at District 1 brewpub in Stevens Point, Wisconsin; receiving ongoing code updates.
Spooky Pinball game; lost $2,000+ in secondary market value; example of non-Scott Danesi design underperformance
Modern pinball; rated as 'big time turkey' with 'its own knife'; described as slicing and dicing reference
Spooky Pinball's Halloween-themed pinball machine; subject of the gameplay video; currently at code version 1.05
Spooky title; Don owns Collector's Edition unnumbered from Bug; ~600 plays; heavily modded; selling for $7,500 OBO; recent hot code update
Spooky Pinball game; designed by John Comprater; significant code update just released with new content/animations
Spooky Pinball game; reported playfield durability feedback in location play
Pinball machine Don still owns; currently earning 'trick-or-treat money' at an earning location
New Spooky Pinball title (v1.01) with horror theme, multiple modes, blood currency system, ball lifters, multiball modes
Spooky Pinball 2021 release; shares layout with Ultraman; exhibited at Pinball Expo
Spooky Pinball title; sold out; new Expert Mode code coming focusing on young Michael Myers; will receive continued code enhancements
Prior pinball release that had issues; referenced as a cautionary example when Kale expresses hope that Looney Tunes has learned from its problems.
Spooky Pinball title; discussed for value depreciation and design/code shortcomings
Prior Spooky game with licensing limitations; had playfield and mechanics too similar to Ultraman; negatively affected by licensing constraints
Spooky Pinball title; 1,250 units; non-refundable deposits; same design team as Ultraman and Scooby-Doo
Spooky Pinball machine; Tim owns premium version; had ramp/technical issues now mostly resolved; most-played game in Tim's collection
Spooky game; first game from Charlie's children; non-refundable deposit, limited gameplay showcase before launch; contributed to Spooky's reputation damage.
Spooky pinball game at Pintastic; George found it overhyped, describes it as 'scary' and 'a horror show'
Spooky Pinball title; criticized for poor code, lack of polish, weak shot geometry, and sterile engagement
Spooky Pinball release; cited as example of poor day-one code that later improvements could not fully recover from
Spooky Pinball game; Kaneda criticized design for excessive stop-and-go and ball disappearance mechanics
Spooky Pinball game with beautiful art package but code issues, ball tracking bugs, unused upper playfields
Spooky Pinball title; criticized for poor animation quality by hired animator, non-refundable pre-orders, lack of quality accountability
Spooky Pinball game; 1,250 units pre-ordered; FOMO-driven sales; secondary market flooded with discounted units; quality concerns.
Horror film franchise featuring Michael Myers character
Spooky Pinball title with reported clear coat/armor discoloration defect
Spooky Pinball game that underperformed, leaving distributors holding inventory with customer deposits; cited as example of manufacturer failure that damaged distributor relationships
Spooky Pinball game, expected to hold secondary market value better than Ultraman
Recent Spooky Pinball release; criticized by Kaneda for poor playfield layout, ramp geometry issues, and design flaws; cited as example of company's loss of community goodwill
Spooky Pinball game; code launch shortcomings became reference point for improvement; had topmost playfield
Spooky Pinball game; released via fan club membership requiring non-refundable deposits before game shown; lost value immediately post-release
Spooky Pinball release; criticized for minimal clips and incomplete features; poor secondary market performance
Spooky Pinball title; criticized for incomplete launch, poor theme integration, minimal video clips; ~500 units produced; secondary market deflation
Previous Spooky Pinball game that Don owned and sold to Dana; referenced as context for comparing designs
Spooky Pinball game with poor shooting mechanics but better secondary market retention than Ultraman due to theme
Spooky Pinball game with 750-unit production run, shares playfield with Ultraman, complete but struggling due to shared development strategy
Spooky Pinball widebody title; central to Kaneda's criticism for incomplete code, poor animations, lack of polish
Spooky Pinball title; criticized for weak design, off-the-shelf components, and poor animation; secondary market depreciation example
Spooky Pinball title; Tim's cabinet has splitting wood (separate from Big Lebowski drop)
Spooky pinball game acquired by Tim, has upper playfield 'butt pretzel shot', required diverter adjustment.
Spooky Pinball title; criticized for animation quality; Scooby-Doo improvements noted as learning from this title
Spooky Pinball game mentioned as having three upper playfields; used as reference for upper playfield design criticism
Spooky Pinball game recently receiving code update; briefly mentioned mid-stream conversation
Spooky Pinball title receiving 1.08 code update with bug fixes and balance changes; animations in development
Previous Spooky Pinball dual-release with Ultraman; cited as instructive failure in dual-theme design; had Jason Edmonston art praised as greatest horror art package
Horror-themed pinball game by Spooky Pinball with multiple playfield zones, receiving significant code update with new movie clips, modes, and shop system
Spooky Pinball game receiving 1.06 code updates including mode timing, new multiballs, and refinements shown in video
Horror-themed pinball machine by Spooky with three upper playfields, subject of 1.09 code update
Spooky Pinball's recent release; subject of critical analysis by Scott Ian; criticized for poor layout, visibility, and overall disappointment
Spooky Pinball game receiving 1.07 update with Boogeyman wizard mode, redesigned Jack-o'-lantern modes, repeatable multiballs, and Michael creep fix
Spooky Pinball machine receiving 1.11 code update with First Kill expert mode and audio enhancements
Spooky Pinball title; Bug indicates code update video planned in near term
Spooky Pinball title; comparative reference point for art package and cabinet design vs. Ultraman
Prior Spooky Pinball title; TCM's atmospheric design compared to this game
Spooky Pinball horror-themed machine with three main modes and six Jack-o'-lantern modes
Spooky Pinball game featuring Expert 'Stalker Mode' in code 1.05 update; four-quadrant playfield with Michael Myers avoidance mechanic
Spooky Pinball game programmed by Matt Kemp; completion took priority over Motorhead coding before Christmas
Spooky Pinball title; example of hiring original film actors for voice work
Recent Spooky Pinball release; Jessica obtained one; Rachel did not
Spooky Pinball machine recently purchased by Greg; visually praised as 'prettier' and 'cooler looking' than competing horror theme
2021 Spooky Pinball release with horror theme, three upper playfields, innovative subway flap mechanics
Spooky Pinball game; previously operated at North End Pub before being swapped for Ultraman
Spooky Pinball game referenced as having slow movie pacing similar to Evil Dead issue
Spooky Pinball title with reported code bugs and regressions after updates
Spooky Pinball; experienced demand miscalculation similar to Toy Story with losses occurring before production completion
Previous Spooky Pinball release used as comparison point for shooting mechanics, code, design, and sound quality
Pinball machine at the expo
Spooky Pinball's upcoming machine featuring three playfields, asylum/hedge/house multiball modes, combo system. Based on original 1978 film. Code not 100% complete at release.
Previous Spooky Pinball release; used same layout strategy as TCM/Looney Tunes approach with Halloween and Ultraman sharing playfield
Spooky Pinball's officially announced next title; features multi-tiered playfield with horror theme; full reveal expected early July
Spooky Pinball's upcoming game with three price tiers ($7k-$9k) and shared playfield design with unreleased niche title
Spooky Pinball's horror-themed pinball machine featuring three-tier playfield design, Jason Edmiston artwork, 1,250 unit production, orders begin July 7; available in Standard, Bloodsucker, and Collector's Edition tiers
Spooky Pinball machine that serves as mechanical template for Ultraman; horror-themed title with established market appeal
Spooky Pinball horror-themed machine; part of dual sell-out announcement; claimed to be their best shooting game to date
Spooky Pinball game featured in Halloween stream; polled against Ultraman (45% preference in poll of 325 votes)
Spooky Pinball game with reported quality issues that eroded community trust
Spooky Pinball game; shown at horror movie convention instead of PinFest
Spooky Pinball horror-themed game with three different top playfield activation methods; criticized for audio design issues
Previous Spooky Pinball release sharing identical layout with Ultraman; referenced as comparison point for dual-release strategy
Spooky Pinball licensed game mentioned in opening game list
Spooky Pinball title cited as example of rapid sellout
Spooky Pinball horror-themed game; sold out within ~2 hours; 1,250 unit limited run; features three legless hedges, drop target bank, dual ramps, upper playfields; host expresses concerns about potential for wood-choppy gameplay
Spooky Pinball game in current lineup
Previous Spooky Pinball game used as comparison point for dual-theme layout model
Spooky Pinball game with triple-playfield design; subject of purchase consideration; has reliability issues and design criticisms
Spooky Pinball title; had code/functional issues post-launch; Matt played at Starfighter arcade in Arizona; one machine at Pinfest; despite issues, Matt appreciated core gameplay and wanted continued access
Spooky Pinball title; uses same playfield foundation as Ultraman and reused for Texas Chainsaw/Looney Tunes
2021 Spooky Pinball release; nominated for multiple art and sound awards
Spooky Pinball game; community dumping deposits at loss; limited optimism for code fixes
Spooky Pinball game with 1,250-unit run, horror theme based on John Carpenter film, features three upper playfields (one passive), seven ball locks, Michael Myers hedge toys, designed by committee under pseudonym Chorus Barloff Sigh
Recent pinball release criticized for layout choices; rejected by competitive players despite visual appeal
Deep Root pinball machine; not new to show but first major public playtest at TPF 2022; heavily criticized for poor playfield design and marketing misrepresentation
Spooky Pinball game from 2021 that received limited PIA award recognition, placing fourth in Cabinet/Backglass Art
Spooky Pinball release not available on location route; hosts hoping to play at Texas Pinball Festival
Spooky Pinball game; wizard mode recently added; secondary market prices declining; production of 1,500 units; compared negatively to Raza in hypothetical scenario
Spooky Pinball release with playfield space issues from multiple upper playfields; Evil Dead improves upon its shooter integration
Spooky Pinball license title in production; on schedule to finish as expected; part of simultaneous dual-theme production with Ultraman
Previous Spooky Pinball release using same dual-theme manufacturing concept with shared playfield
Spooky Pinball title exhibited at SFGE 2021 with high demand from attendees
Stern pinball machine on location at Nowhere Entertainment Center
Spooky CE model (2021) at The Local Market
Previous Spooky Pinball dual-theme game (horror/family combination)
Spooky Pinball game receiving substantial code update focus; additions of creepy/atmospheric content planned
Spooky Pinball game; received new code update; contains Scooby-Doo Easter Eggs
Spooky Pinball dual-theme game; referenced as precedent for potential Princess Bride/horror dual-theme format
Spooky Pinball game referenced for code development comparison with Scooby-Doo
Spooky Pinball pinball machine receiving v1.09 code update
Prior Spooky Pinball widebody with upper playfield used for complexity comparison
Upcoming Spooky Pinball machine with code development underway; release target missed
Spooky Pinball game receiving minor code updates
Current Spooky Pinball game in production with dual-theme layout strategy
Spooky Pinball machine receiving Boogeyman Wizard Mode in code 1.07
Recent Spooky Pinball release paired with Ultraman
Spooky Pinball machine receiving code update v1.06 with new multiball modes and licensed song
Spooky Pinball game; Don owns this game at home; same playfield layout as Ultraman, which helped him perform better on Ultraman
Spooky Pinball game acquired at Midwest Gaming Conference; features ball elevator integration and Michael Myers theme
Spooky Pinball game released 2022; first dual-theme release (with Ultraman); featured triple upper playfield; created quality issues due to 1,700 unit production spike
Spooky Pinball's new machine; horror-themed; 1,250 units planned; features artwork by Jason Edmiston; represents shift toward commercial licenses while maintaining boutique appeal
Previous Spooky Pinball release; referenced as example of ongoing code updates and upper playfield design innovation
Spooky Pinball title marking transition point to launch-button mechanism (pre-Ultraman)
Spooky Pinball game; mentioned for comparison to Ultraman; same layout/rules; $6,000-$7,000; limited run ~500 units
Spooky Pinball game ranked #5 on their own list (but Greg considers it #1); features two playfields; debated for mechanical issues (scoop rejects, hedges)
Ranked #5; features dual playfield layout with upper playfield, known for scoop rejection issues on some units
Spooky Pinball game receiving code update in October; commitment to annual Halloween updates; manual available
Spooky Pinball game that Nick reviewed without seeing the source material; central to debate about reviewing games without theme knowledge
Spooky game released with Ultraman; hosts accessed for streaming/evaluation; mentioned as quality reference point
Spooky Pinball release; great theme service, bass drop in sanitarium, sold out based on Rick and Morty's success, Don owned and considered repurchasing
Spooky game referenced as having design theme (two upper playfield focus)
Spooky Pinball title; criticized for left-side three-scoop design, slow ball animations, center ramp rejection issues; hosts debate whether it's salvageable through code updates
Spooky Pinball release; sold out; Zach played one game with positive first impressions but notes air ball assembly could be improved
Previous Spooky title with 1,200 unit production; mentioned as reference point for mechanical reliability concerns (center ramp issues, upper playfield accessibility problems)
Spooky Pinball release with significant software bugs (stuck modes, ball tracking); people canceling preorders due to quality
Spooky Pinball game released 2021 with multiple upper playfields, 1,250 unit run, $6,995–$9,995 MSRP; based on John Carpenter film; designed by Bug Ebery and David Fosma
Spooky Pinball game with reused playfield from Ultraman; mentioned as example of successful playfield reuse strategy
Early Spooky Pinball release; strong sales performance convinced Charlie to step back from operations.
Spooky Pinball machine, horror-themed, featuring Judith Myers, Michael Myers, and modes based on Halloween film franchise.
Spooky Pinball game featuring Stalker mode; cited as mechanical inspiration for Family mode
Spooky Pinball game referenced as having incredible modes with creative mechanics
Spooky Pinball title receiving new expert mode code update featuring young Michael Myers; continuing code support despite sold-out status
Spooky Pinball title subject of two-hour IE Pinball Twitch stream dissection; community discussing shredded guitar soundtrack alternative
Spooky Pinball title currently shipping at 5-6/week; receiving community criticism for animation quality (described as PowerPoint-level), insert placement, and lack of movie content; major code update Oct 1
Stern release; stream reveal turned off many players unlike Godzilla which had opposite effect
Spooky Pinball game; gameplay revealed via stream with expectation of additional video assets and callouts.
Spooky Pinball game; game numbers distributed to pre-owners; gameplay video expected this week.
Spooky Pinball game featured in YouTube video with original Halloween actor Nick Castle; sold out; video received 3,000+ views as publicity
Spooky Pinball's horror-themed machine; re-theme of Ultraman layout with dual playfields; four main playfield holes feeding to subway; sold out with non-refundable deposits
2021 Stern release; potential Twippy competitor to Godzilla in art and theme categories; discussed as theme preference variable
Spooky Pinball game criticized by hosts for secondary playfield access difficulty and mode confusion; defended by community members; subject of episode's main controversy.
Boutique manufacturer release with graphics/animations that received leniency compared to equivalent quality from Stern/JJP
Spooky Pinball reveal; hosts criticized flat animation style, repetitive piano soundtrack, lack of campy horror aesthetic, poor LCD screen implementation
Spooky Pinball machine Don considered acquiring; Jamie notes he tried to discourage purchase; game referenced alongside quality concerns about Spooky
Spooky Pinball machine; placed second or third in multiple categories; hosts criticize it despite strong voting performance; features Donald Pleasance impersonator callouts
Spooky Pinball; unfinished 18 months post-release; ongoing development with outside programmer in New Zealand; example of production scaling failure at Spooky.
Spooky Pinball game released before Alice Cooper; sold out in one day; poor reception influenced subsequent game performance
Spooky Pinball recent release; paired with Ultraman at Allentown; uses mostly static animations rather than video clips; described as less appealing than Ultraman in comparison stream
Spooky Pinball horror release; referenced as darker horror game with film-sourced music; location viability discussed
Spooky Pinball game; Julian's favorite; also Jim Belsito's favorite; features upper playfield
Spooky Pinball machine operated by Todd at Maritime for ~3 years; boutique game requiring significant technical maintenance; potential trade target for Marcus at Galactics
Spooky Pinball game that sold 1,200+ units in less than a day; led to Evil Dead signing; three upper playfields; experience informed Evil Dead design
Earlier Spooky release with three upper playfields; referenced as example of complex mechanical design contrasted with flow-focused Looney Tunes/TCM approach
Spooky Pinball title; paired with Ultraman for 1,750 total units; experienced quality control issues; sold 1,250 units on art package appeal alone
Spooky title loved by reviewer for three-level playfield design
Spooky dual-theme release paired with Ultraman; licensed concerns about R-rated horror appeal led to Ultraman pairing strategy
Spooky Pinball game that sold out; Don purchased show game unit from booth at MGC convention; described as charming with interesting gate/lane mechanics
Spooky Pinball title; Greg diagnosed servo power failure caused by blown fuse during customer service call
Spooky Pinball release; horror-themed; Greg considers seasonal favorite alongside Evil Dead
Spooky Pinball 2021 horror title; community #1 Halloween machine; features three upper playfields, strong rule set, distinctive shooting mechanics, praised for thematic immersion
Spooky title (~1,250 combined with Ultraman); Ken defends quality despite community criticism; represents period where Spooky maxed capacity
Spooky title with 1,200 unit production run alongside 500 Ultraman units; quality degradation noted when combined production exceeded current optimal levels
Spooky release mentioned as example of game Spooky may have been overconfident about that underperformed initially
Spooky release; Dennis cites as poorly-received despite good theme, representing risk of high-count limited releases
Spooky machine added to Scrapple Land November 23rd; also taken out of Meetup Grill Rockaway (replaced with Star Wars Fall of the Empire and Medieval Madness remake)
Earlier Spooky title with documented reliability issues; community reports of problems
Earlier Spooky release; Albert cites it as example of machine with poor flow, won't play it despite being arcade's most modern game
Spooky Pinball release; combined with Ultraman for 1,750 units; experienced quality control issues; now controls production strategy on subsequent releases
Spooky title; worst flow per host; only Spooky on location in Moncton; host prefers America's Most Haunted
Spooky Pinball title; CE version owned by both hosts; received community hate despite strong operator/collector performance; QC issues early in production
John Carpenter film; featured in early Counterflip apparel designs
Spooky release; $5,800 OBO; platform shared with Ultraman; good buyer's market pricing
Spooky Pinball release; initial strong sales reception; later criticism affected manufacturer reputation