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''FunHouse'' is a
pinball Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest. Historically the board was studded with nails call ...
machine designed by Pat Lawlor and released in November 1990 by Williams Electronics. Starring a talking ventriloquist dummy named Rudy, the game is themed after the concept of an amusement park funhouse. ''FunHouse'' is one of the last Williams games to use an alphanumeric display; the company switched to dot matrix the following year.


Description

''FunHouses primary feature is the talking head of a ventriloquist dummy, named Rudy, located in the top right corner of the playfield. Rudy responds to events in the game, including informing the player of special bonuses, taunting and heckling the player, and appearing to follow the ball with its eyes when certain targets are hit. Rudy is voiced by
Ed Boon Edward Boon (born February 22, 1964) is an American video game programmer, voice actor, and director. Boon was employed for over 15 years at Midway Games. Since 2011, he has worked for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for one of its subsi ...
, and the technology behind Rudy's facial movements was dubbed "Pin-Mation" by Williams. The theme and artwork were heavily inspired by Riverview Park, an amusement park near the manufacturer's headquarters. For example, the park's Riverview Carousel is depicted on the backglass. It is the first pinball machine to include two plungers. Two references to Pat Lawlor's previous game '' Whirlwind'' are on the playfield; a whirlwind at the entrance to the mystery mirror scoop, and Kansas feel the power at the top of the machine, behind Rudy. ''Whirlwind'' is set in Kansas, and "feel the power" is one of the callouts at the start of a multiball.


Gameplay

The game's overall theme is that of a funhouse, with the player taking on the role of a visitor to see its attractions. The overall goal of the game is to advance the "game time" to midnight and cause the FunHouse to close, allowing the player to start multiball mode. A secondary goal of the game is to complete the "Mystery Mirror" by lighting all of its modes, starting "Super Frenzy" mode. The game is over when the player has lost all balls, including any extra balls earned. Every target and ramp has a name and function following the funhouse theme. Aside from Rudy himself, the game's main feature is a virtual clock in the center of the playfield, which advances by various increments with each successful shot or target hit. When the clock reaches 11:30, it stops advancing and the game announces that the FunHouse will close in 30 minutes. Making a successful shot to the "Hidden Hallway" locks the current ball and advances the clock to 11:45. Making this shot again locks the second ball, advances the clock to midnight, and causes Rudy to fall asleep with his mouth open. The player must then shoot a ball into Rudy's mouth to start multiball. While at least two balls are in play, the player can score a Jackpot by shooting the Trap Door next to Rudy while it is open. When multiball mode ends, the time resets to an earlier "opening" time, and single-ball mode continues as before. As with most pinball machines, once a player has earned a total of five extra balls, each subsequent one awards a score bonus instead.


Legacy

The 1993 Williams pinball table '' Twilight Zone'' includes music and quotes from the game as part of its "Fast Lock" mode, and a different quote as a hidden surprise in its "Clock Chaos" mode. The 1994 Williams pinball table '' Red & Ted's Road Show'' includes two animating heads which work similarly to Rudy. ''FunHouse'' was available as a licensed table of '' The Pinball Arcade'' until June 30th 2018 when the license with WMS expired. The table is also included in '' Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection'' and the arcade game UltraPin. With the license for digital recreations of WMS Industries tables being passed to Zen Studios, the company announced in 2020 that ''FunHouse'' will be among a forthcoming sixth wave of tables to be included in its own curation of Williams pinball tables as downloadable content for '' Pinball FX 3''. A remastered version released for '' Pinball FX'' on June 30, 2022


See also

*''
Comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that warms and begins to release gases when passing close to the Sun, a process called outgassing. This produces an extended, gravitationally unbound atmosphere or Coma (cometary), coma surrounding ...
'' - a pinball machine by Williams released in 1985 featuring an amusement park theme *'' Cyclone'' - a pinball machine by Williams released in 1988 featuring an amusement park theme


References


External links

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Restored Funhouse Videos and ImagesThe GameRoom Blog: Funhouse Pinball Review
{{Pat Lawlor Williams pinball machines 1990 pinball machines