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SDTM: Unboxing a Houdini pinball machine

Straight Down the Middle·video·23m 54s·analyzed·Jan 19, 2018
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claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.026

TL;DR

Zach Sharpe unboxes American Pinball's Houdini Master of Mystery directly from factory.

Summary

Zach Sharpe from Straight Down the Middle unboxes a brand-new American Pinball Houdini Master of Mystery machine fresh from the factory. He visited American Pinball's Chicago facility, met designer Joe Bolster and coder Josh Kugler, and brought home one of the first production units. The unboxing showcases unique design features including powder-coated legs with integrated Allen wrench bolts, a full stereo speaker system in the head, and a 15.6-inch monitor back glass with LED lighting.

Key Claims

  • Joe Bolster designed the integrated Allen wrench leg bolt system and had been wanting to implement it for a while

    high confidence · Zach Sharpe states Joe Bolster explained this design feature during his visit to American Pinball

  • American Pinball uses Churchill cabinets and Miracle playfields

    high confidence · Zach Sharpe observes and confirms this during unboxing inspection of internal components

  • American Pinball places all stereo speaker system components in the head rather than cabinet because there's minimal benefit from cabinet speakers

    high confidence · American Pinball team explained this design philosophy to Zach Sharpe during factory visit

  • The machine uses Stern Spike hardware for LED and power distribution

    high confidence · Zach Sharpe identifies this during internal inspection of the playfield

  • Houdini Master of Mystery has a 15.6-inch monitor back glass with LED strips

    high confidence · Zach Sharpe observes and describes the back glass setup during unboxing

  • American Pinball will soon offer Arc Side Blades and Magic Glass as options

    high confidence · Zach Sharpe states this was confirmed by American Pinball team; these options were not available for his unit

  • The factory was assembling multiple completed Houdini machines ready for imminent shipment

    high confidence · Zach Sharpe reports observing many completed machines at the American Pinball factory during his visit

  • The machine is set to approximately 6 degrees incline at the factory, but Zach prefers 6.5-7 degrees

    high confidence · Zach Sharpe shares Joe Bolster's specifications and his own leveling preferences based on industry standards

Notable Quotes

  • “It says American Pinball, and you know what's hiding inside of this thing? It's a beautiful, brand-new, fresh-off-the-line Houdini Master of Mystery pinball machine.”

    Zach Sharpe@ 1:18 — Opening statement expressing excitement about receiving one of the first production Houdini units

  • “So it was rolling off the line into the box. So I got a boxing and I'm doing an unboxing. Which is cool as hell.”

    Zach Sharpe@ 2:23 — Highlights the special nature of witnessing the machine being manufactured and boxed before unboxing it

  • “They said you don't get much benefit with that speaker in the cabinet. It's kind of pointless. So they put them all up here.”

    Zach Sharpe@ 14:51 — Explains American Pinball's design rationale for concentrating all speakers in the head unit

  • “Look at the head of that. I think that's a first in pinball. So the thing, the torque wrench or an Allen wrench that you secure the head with actually is the same tool you use to tighten the leg bolts.”

    Zach Sharpe@ 6:51 — Identifies what he believes is a novel design innovation specific to Houdini

  • “I've been waiting for this machine to come out. I've been saving my pinball pennies. Alright, emptied out the old piggy bank. Sold my Tron. Sold The Hobbit because I thought this was going to take a little bit longer to come out.”

    Zach Sharpe@ 9:18 — Demonstrates significant personal investment and anticipation; shows willingness to sell other machines for this one

  • “Houdini Master of Mystery is in the house! Oh come on, that's great. It literally is in my house.”

Entities

Zach SharpepersonJoe BolsterpersonJosh KuglerpersonGregpersonAmerican PinballcompanyHoudini Master of MysterygameStraight Down the Middleorganization

Signals

  • ?

    business_signal: American Pinball demonstrates production capacity and readiness to ship Houdini units imminently with multiple completed machines in factory queue

    high · Zach observed factory with many completed, boxed machines ready for distribution; multiple units visible during his facility visit

  • ?

    community_signal: Straight Down the Middle producing extensive post-release coverage including designer interviews, rules walkthroughs, and gameplay analysis with American Pinball team members

    high · Zach mentions upcoming expansive review with Josh Kugler providing rules overview and Joe Bolster explaining gameplay/design elements; multiple live streams planned

  • ?

    design_philosophy: American Pinball prioritizes full-spectrum stereo audio in head unit rather than cabinet, based on engineering assessment that cabinet speakers provide minimal benefit

    high · American Pinball team explained to Zach that they removed cabinet speakers and concentrated all speaker components (6.1 or 7.1 system) in head unit as deliberate design choice

  • ?

    manufacturing_signal: American Pinball sources cabinets from Churchill and playfields from Miracle, both described as high-quality suppliers

    high · Zach identifies these manufacturers during internal inspection and notes quality of components; confirms sourcing with American Pinball

  • ?

    announcement: American Pinball publicly shipping Houdini Master of Mystery to customers with multiple completed units in factory queue

    high · Zach observed many completed machines at factory; his unit is one of the first production machines; factory was boxing machines for imminent shipment

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.072

0:00
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0:22
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0:58
All right, guys, this is Zach from straight down the middle of Pinball Show. This is maybe not the moment you've been waiting for, but Lord knows it's the moment that I've been waiting for. You guys see what this says right here?
1:18
It says American Pinball, and you know what's hiding inside of this thing? It's a beautiful, brand-new, fresh-off-the-line Houdini pinball machine. So, in true Zach fashion, let's open this bath web. Alright.
1:35

Zach Sharpe@ 22:14 — Enthusiastic reaction to the machine booting successfully for the first time in his possession

  • “They were so hospitable. They were so nice. I couldn't say better things about them and the group there. They've got really big things coming for them.”

    Zach Sharpe@ 3:45 — Positive assessment of American Pinball as a company and hint of future releases being planned

  • “It's not been done on pinball. I'm literally right here for a bite. Here's the finish of the leg. It is a nice, it's a very textured powder. It's like a bronze-ish green. Very industrial looking. It fits the steampunk style of the game.”

    Zach Sharpe@ 4:27 — Technical description of the powder-coated leg finish and how it complements the game theme

    • Flippin' Out Pinball
    company
    Pin Stadium Lightscompany
    Pin Graphicscompany
    Churchillcompany
    Miraclecompany
    Stern Spikeproduct
    Jersey Jack Pinballcompany
    Stern Pinballcompany
    Chicago Gaming Companycompany
    Kevinperson
    Schmittyperson
    Jill Halterperson
    Bob's Plasticscompany
  • ?

    product_strategy: Houdini Master of Mystery offering optional upgrades including Arc Side Blades and Magic Glass not available at initial production stage

    high · Zach states these will be sold as options soon; notes they were not available for his unit despite his willingness to purchase

  • ?

    technology_signal: American Pinball uses Stern Spike hardware platform for LED and power management in Houdini

    high · Zach observes and identifies Stern Spike hardware during playfield inspection while describing circuit board components

  • ?

    technology_signal: Novel integrated Allen wrench leg bolt design described as a first in pinball industry

    medium · Zach Sharpe states 'I think that's a first in pinball' regarding the unified tool approach to securing head and legs; Joe Bolster had wanted to implement this design for some time

    • So, it was nice enough that Greg, straight down the middle, Greg and I, drove up to Chicago. And we met the guys at American Pinball. We met the owner.
    1:51
    Fantastic guy. We met the designer, Joe Bolster. kick-ass guy. We met the coder, Josh Coogler. Really smart, awesome guy.
    2:10
    Staples. And they showed us around. I even got to see this thing be boxed. So it's crazy, right? So it was rolling off the line into the box. So I got a boxing and I'm doing an unboxing. Which is cool as hell. Alright.
    2:32
    Always when doing these pinball machines you want to make sure to take these staples out. Otherwise you're going to be playing your first game of pinball with a staple in your shoe. So...
    2:46
    And I was going to live stream this. And shout out to Kevin from Buffalo Pinball. a little pinball. He live streamed a dialed in that I watched. It was fantastic. But Kevin,
    2:59
    it's late, buddy. And I'm tired. And I just want to play the hell out of this game. Can you blame me? Can you guys blame me? I got my main man, best buddy Schmitty. He's smiling right now. You guys watch Schmitty on his side. He's on the camera. Let's hope he doesn't botched this thing. Oh man, it was crazy and really special to me to be able to see this thing on the line being built and then taking it home with me. That's something that a lot of us, I'll never be able to do again probably, but it was really special to me. So special thanks to the American Pinball Crew. They were so hospitable. They were so nice. I couldn't say better things about them and the group there. They've got really big things coming for them. All right. This box feels big, man. Does it seem bigger? This box seems huge. These are powder coated legs. And these legs I'm going to show you, that Jill Halter was showing you. It's a really cool thing with those legs. I'll show you. It's not been done in pinball. I'm literally right here for a bite. Here's the finish of the leg. It is a nice, it's a very textured powder. It's like a bronze-ish green. Very industrial looking. It fits the steampunk style of the game.
    5:03
    I think we're good, Jason. All right. So I'm hoping that this is like every other pinball machine when I unbox it.
    5:11
    What do you think, Jason? Do you think it will be? Yeah. It's probably going to move those legs here. They're right in the damn way.
    5:21
    Kick them over? All right. It's a long day man, we drove, Greg and I drove, six hours, six hours up there, six hours back.
    5:42
    I think the toughest part was actually just sitting in a vehicle with Greg for 12 hours. I love the guy but I shit you not he was if you guys don know you have to check out our Straight Down the Middle videos but he uh He a trip to say the least I love him man but I mean no shit Schmitty he was Every single semi that we'd come up to... Hey, man, watch it, man, watch it. It felt like I was driving my grandpa.
    6:12
    He was worried. Alright, might not fit you very well. Alright, so, they apologized, they were like, Zach, you're one of the first ones here because we want the world to see it, so don't make fun of our bagging right now. And I said, you know what, you give me this machine, I don't care. I don't care what it looks like. Alright, so, here's the unique part, here's the leg bolts. I don't know if you guys can zoom in. Looks like a typical 5-8, but look at the head of that. I think that's a first in pinball. So the thing, the torque wrench or an Allen wrench that you secure the head with actually is the same tool you use to tighten the leg bolts.
    7:06
    That's neat. It's different, right? It is different and it fits kind of that industrial theme of the machine. So I'll see how much I like that idea. Joe Bolzer told me that he has been wanting to do that for a while on the machine. very cool we'll see alright and what we'll probably do today here's a button what we'll probably do today we'll get this set up we'll turn it on so you guys can see it and then keep checking out the SDTM videos so that you can watch we have a really really expansive review of this thing. Expansive or meaning that Josh Coogler goes over the rules with us on this very machine and Joe Balser goes over the gameplay and the design elements of Houdini. So make sure to check that out as well as all of the live streams that you're going to see on Straight Down the Middle. A pinball show. A very tired pinball show.
    8:24
    But how can I leave this in the box overnight? I can't do that. Alright, so it looks like I'm not going to be able to put the legs on until I get some of that wrapping off.
    8:37
    Okay. Let's just cut that right now, right? Your face. You guys know me, I've been waiting for this machine to come out. I've been saving my pinball pennies. Alright, emptied out the old piggy bank. Sold my Tron. Got a Hobbit because I thought this was going to take a little bit longer to come out. It didn't, which is awesome. So I sold the Hobbit.
    9:46
    I don't know Joe, we won't let this deal. I can get used to it I guess. It's better by the way. It's probably a smaller cake. What should I do? I think I might not crash it. You can go that way.
    10:17
    Alright, next. Wait a second. I should probably check the back of the box before I do that. What? Yeah.
    10:29
    Timber! Alright. Assembly date, January 2018. and they don't put the specific date or do they? Okay.
    10:48
    That's different. A protector up here and a protector back there. Probably because it has that funky head on it. Yeah.
    10:58
    Pretty cool. Alright, now I've got to go get my stool. Oh, this part's nice. We had fun. See, I mean, we are all kids, aren't we? On Christmas when we came to this stuff.
    11:22
    You remember when you were a kid, you had the Transformers, you got that power wheel? Well, let's not joke ourselves. We didn't have power wheels in the 80s, it was just me.
    11:32
    We had dirt bikes, go-karts. We had go-karts. But they came in boxes like this, perspective-wise. When we were four, they were big boxes.
    11:43
    All right, so here's another thing I want to tell you guys. Joe Bolser showed me that on his machine here if they leveled down like this then they going to at six degrees so I gonna bring mine up just a little bit I'm gonna eye it first and then I'll level it later, but six degrees
    12:11
    Chumps plus six degrees There are Jason But it's not like the old ballet one where you get jack these things up where the back end is, you know So we're going to do about like that and I'll see where it's at. I like to be, typically I like to be a little over 6 1⁄2. I like to be closer to 7 really but most people tell you that pinball machines are not designed to be at 7 degrees incline so for whatever it's worth, probably 6 1⁄2 is where it needs to be. Their factory there was pretty cool too. We couldn't get any video of it because they're still moving stuff around and getting stuff where it needs to be. But a lot of machines online, it seems that he's going to be shipping these things out very shortly. I saw a lot of completed machines. Double check to make sure you're not doing something stupid. Good. Just going to release his head. That's good. If you were to watch out, that could have been your eye. And then you wouldn't have been able to play pinball. Because your eye would have been. Now it does have a, I can tell because I can reach it right back in here. It's a shipping sponge that goes in that trunk. Whether or not I'm supposed to do it this way. I'm going to do it that way. Oh hey that was actually good wasn't it guys? Alright, so I don't need my balsa wrench again. Get this head on. Should be free. There's only a couple wires going back to this if you want to come show the peoples.
    14:10
    What are you doing there? There you go. Oh, man, that's simple. Yeah. A couple of data wires is it? And you got this ball syringe that does the whole thing about. Yeah. Another cool thing that I noticed before folding up the head here, you don't see this coming out of a lot of cabinets, do you, Jason? You know what those are? Speakers. That's right. There's some big ass speakers in here and they sound awesome. One of the unique things about American Pinball Sardini is that all of your speaker, your full fledged stereo speaker system is all in the head. They said you don't get much they found with that speaker in the cabinet. It's kind of pointless. So they put them all up here. So they're protruding out of the back of the head here and they're going to go down to the hole.
    15:09
    Make sure it's nice and tight. And abracadabra. Abracadabra! Oh yeah. So we got a couple pieces of foam it looks like. We'll pull the glass here. Oh yeah.
    15:53
    Alright, so what I'm going to do is I'm going to clean up this area around here, pull the glass, we're going to pull all the stuff out of it, and then you and I will fire it up, I'd say for the first time that it's been on before.
    16:05
    So Bob's Plastics. Looks like all kinds of plastics. We're going to need our power cord. Bowls. We'll see how good their balls are compared to other manufacturer's balls. Nice sticker. I voted today. What was that? I voted? Alright, so looks like typical plastics, tilt bob, etc. I'm tired. You ever get messed up on those and not know which way they go sometimes? I do that all the time. I'm tired. Alright, so we're going to take the piece of Gladys off. I've already, there's two support blocks in here, shipping blocks. One was in that crate. I already took that out when the head was down. Another one's between the pops right there.
    17:01
    And you guys have got to check out our review and stuff. We're going to make it special. It's cool. Alright, now I want to check out the bowls.
    17:14
    Dirty dingy bowls. I've got some Titan Competition shiny bowls. I'll probably put it in there. Oily bowls.
    17:27
    Before we put them in the game, they will definitely be cleaned. And if they're still not clean enough, we'll do the shiny bowls probably regardless on this. Alright. Alright, it does have the lever.
    17:47
    Yes please. I like the lever Now soon they will be selling options for this game that is the Arc Side Blades as well as the Magic Glass which is a very clear glass They were not options at this point or I would have happily purchased them. This piece of paper just tells you to remove those foam blocks. Now you guys know when you're opening up a new box pinball machine, you should check to make sure everything is tight on this. We'll do that here in a minute but I'm not going to bore you with that. I'll do that, I'll flip it up. Actually we'll flip it up now just to show you guys what it looks like underneath. fold it down and show you guys what it looks like behind the head then we'll turn it on. So I'm not sure how this one works. It looks like it does have a rail system, nice bright yellow ones. But again, a new manufacturer, I have no clue how this thing is going to, you can only assume that you're going to pull it out. It's going to pop down like a stern. Let's hope it stops it does don't pull too hard lift it up let's not break anything at first okay interesting if you want to come in here Smitty show the people what we got in here looks like a nice you're telling me I think Churchill makes the cabinets.
    19:37
    Miracle makes the playfields, so all high quality stuff. Looks like a lot of node boards. They are using some of the regular LEDs as well as some of the board LEDs.
    19:49
    Looks and smells nice, doesn't it? Looks like this is a paper flap to protect a couple boards underneath.
    19:58
    Relays to the, I don't know what all this is. A lot of stuff going on out there, right? And then if you poke around to the back, I don't know if you've got enough leash to do so. Really interesting back there. I don't know what the hell that is, but it looks scary. Look in there.
    20:17
    I don't know if you can even get it. Can you see it in there or is it too dark? It's pretty dark, but you can kind of see it. I don't know what that is. But it says caution high voltage, So I won't be licking my fingers on that anytime soon. All right.
    20:35
    So we're going to fold this head down now. And then I'll cut. Actually, I'm going to cut now so that I can check all of this stuff. And then we'll show you the back of the head. All right, guys. Let's look in the bag box now.
    20:51
    I'm not sure how this works, but we're going to pretend it works just like any other pinball machine. And it does. One of the things I have to be careful, this is an actual back glass. And what's nice about this, you guys are going to see when I turn this thing on, this is not white on the back. So the image that you guys will see is like diamonds. It's so, so beautiful. Let's not break that, Jason. All right. So that's it. Come on up and take a look. So we've got our, I think it's a 15.6 inch monitor back there. It felt like that was a good compromise and it integrated well into the back glass. LED strips to light the back glass. And you've got an amp here for all the speakers. I don't know how you get into those, but at one point maybe we'll check those out. I think it's like a 6.1 or 7.1 system up here. It's built well, it's nice. Super, super nice. And this thing's solid too. It's got the T-molding, the leather T-molding. Really cool. Should we turn this thing on? Yes. I think so. But what's cool about the pop bumpers is instead of just this... Houdini is in the house! Oh come on, that's great. It literally is in my house. But they're fully... They move up the whole thing.
    22:25
    They shake those chambers. Alright guys, Houdini is in the house. What I'm going to do next is I'm going to wipe this thing down.
    22:35
    How pretty. Look at that, Jason. Would you look at it? Would you just look at it?
    22:42
    Looks good. Looks really good. You guys are going to see a hell of a lot more of Houdini. If you keep checking out straight down the middle of Pinball Show, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube, to our Twitch. go back and watch the Twibby Awards we're hosting that all kinds of fun stuff but until then have a good night I'm going to bed after I play about 12 to 15 to 20 games of this thanks man all one is locked
    23:22
    The magician too is now up. Thank you.