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Funhouse


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Funhouse / IPD No. 966 / November 08, 1990 / 4 Players
 
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Average Fun Rating: [ 8 stars - Click for comments ]    8.1/10  (361 ratings/233 comments)        [ Add Your Rating! ]
Manufacturer: Williams Electronics Games, Incorporated, a subsidiary of WMS Ind.,
Incorporated (1985-1999) [Trade Name: Williams]
Date Of Manufacture: November 08, 1990
Model Number: 50003
Common Abbreviations: FH
MPU: Williams WPC (Alpha Numeric)
Type: Solid State Electronic (SS) [?]
Production: 10,751 units   (approximate)
Serial Number Database:View at The Internet Pinball Serial Number Database (IPSND.net)  (External site)
Theme: Happiness - Circus/Carnival
Notable Features: Flippers (3), Pop bumpers (3), Manual plungers (2), Ramp (1), Standup targets (4), 3-bank standup targets (1), Cellar holes (3), Dual right inlanes, 2- or 3-ball Multiball. The ramp has a diverter that guides the ball either to the left inlane or the left outlane for a left plunger skill shot attempt. Upper loop has a "trapdoor" that opens briefly when an upper loop shot is made. A talking head opens mouth when clock reaches midnight. Then, the player must shoot a ball into the mouth to earn 1,000,000 points and start 'Midnight Multiball'.

Actual measured weight: 256 lbs (includes legs).

Toys: A talking head named "Rudy".
Concept by: Pat Lawlor
Design by: Pat Lawlor, Larry DeMar
Art by: John Youssi
Mechanics by: John Krutsch
Music by: Chris Granner
Sound by: Jon Hey
Software by: Larry DeMar, Brian Eddy
Notes: Ed Boon is the voice of Rudy.

Pat Lawlor informs us that all Funhouse games left Williams with translites. No screened glass.

According to Brian Eddy, he did not do work on the sound for this game as is sometimes stated. He stated at Expo 2004 that he did only display effects and some flasher effects for this game.

Reportedly, about 200 of the first playfields made were manufactured with "Diamond Plate" covering. Additionally, several years later and due to dwindling replacement stock, a set of NOS replacement playfields was manufactured which also had the Diamond Plate covering, although these are also reported to suffer from having the red color 'bleed' around the center playfield clock.

Also, early production models of Funhouse have the Williams System 11 sound board (part no. D-11581) hooked up to the WPC board (via an adapter), because the WPC sound board wasn't yet ready for distribution.

Larry DeMar shares with us some of the design efforts:

There was a mechanical clock created for Fun House. However it was a very
different design than the clock which was used in Twilight Zone.

Cost was one of the issues that led to the removal of the mechanical clock but the initial design which used two solenoid-operated stepper wheels rather than an electric motor was not reliable and Pat was uncomfortable with getting it fixed in the time frame we had to finish the game. So John Krutsch started work on the later design which was finally used in Twilight Zone.

Rudy "names" each player and addresses that player by their name. Most interesting in a multi-player game but in my opinion a feature that we put a lot of effort into which had very little impact on the quality of the game (most people just didn't notice).

The concept of [naming one of the players] "Slick" was that Rudy didn't like you and was picking on you, which we thought would cause buddies to rib each other in multi-player games but no one noticed this either besides discovering certain "rare" phrases like "zooooooooooooooooooooom"!

Matt Walsh comments further:

Light inserts on the lower playfield take the place of the clock's functionality.

Each player who starts a game of Funhouse is given a name...like Chucky, Spunky, Bucko, and Slick. That name sticks for your player for each ball. It's not that obvious; I'm sure many people don't even notice that.

Originally, the idea was that each of those names was to have it's own 'personality' such that Rudy would use varying phrases for each person. But all that remains of this feature is that some of Rudy's phrases will have the player's name inserted in. Well almost. If the player receives the name "Slick" - which is only possible in a two or more player game - the semi-derisive phrases will be used.

In this listing are two close-up images of the Diamond Plate logo. One shows a playfield part number of 31-1605-SP while the other one shows 31-1607. Pat Lawlor explains why this is so:

Funhouse playfields have a wide variety of part #'s and designations on them, both depending on when they were made in the run, and the vendor making them. VERY early prototype playfields have NO part # on them at all and do not say Diamond Plate. There ARE playfields that say " Protected by LS topcoat" since Lenc Smith did not use the Diamond Plate name. Williams had a problem with all of their vendors and keeping them straight. 31-1605-SP is an early Sun process playfield. 31-1607 is a later MULTI-vendor designation. Later, the only way to tell who made the playfield was to look at the edge of the playfield wood and check the marker designations. Adding to this confusion is that playfields could have been stored and then used early or later in the run, AND part sales playfields could have been done at almost any time in the run. What does this mean? Williams was worried that they needed to track the different vendors playfields in case of early wear out problems. So the odd part numbers were a way to try and track the vendors. It is simply a reflection of how many vendors were needed to keep the assembly line running on a daily basis.


The manufacturer's flyer shows a playfield with five targets spelling S-T-E-P-S instead of the production games that have only four targets spelling S-T-E-P. In fact, in the flyer, the "P" standup target is missing and all one sees in its place is the small square hole in the playfield where the target should be. In addition, the makeup on Rudy's face is different. The five triangular bonus inserts near the flippers each do not have the words "Gang Way" on them. A fuller comparison of a prototype version to the production version can be found here.

Williams used this game theme once before on Williams' 1956 'Fun House' which had three trap doors.

A game with two talking heads is Williams' 1994 'Red & Ted's Road Show'.

Production Run Records for Funhouse:
Production Start Date: Nov-8-1990
Production End Date: Apr-10-1991
Production Run Quantity: approximately 10751, shipped quantities logged at 10781 without notation when records ended.
First ship date: Nob-8-1990
Last ship date: unknown, missing records.

Marketing Slogans: "The Game is Watching You"
Photos in: Arcade TreasuresExternal Link, page 136
The Complete Pinball BookExternal Link, pages 163-164
The Pinball Compendium 1982 to PresentExternal Link, page 128
Mike Pacak's Pinball Flyer Reference Book A-F
Rule Sheets: Funhouse Rulesheet (Apr/16/1991), by Mark Phaedrus  
Easter Eggs:Available at Cows and Easter Eggs  (External site)
ROMs: 376 KB ZIP Complete set L-2 Sound ROMs [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  128 KB ROM Revision L-2 Game ROM [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  379 KB ZIP Revision L-2 Sound ROMs [U14,U15,U18] [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  127 KB ZIP Revision L-3 Game ROMs
  128 KB ZIP Revision L-4 Game ROMs
  129 KB ZIP Revision L-5 Game ROMs
  143 KB ZIP Revision L-9 Game ROM [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  136 KB ZIP Revision L-9 Game ROM - Corrected German Text [Unknown (Hacked)]
  301 KB ZIP Revision L9.05H CPU and L3 sound ROM [Larry Demar & Ted Estes]
  152 KB ZIP Special Sound ROM L-2 [U18] [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
Documentation: 12 MB PDF Operations Manual (November 1990, includes schematics, OCR searchable) [Williams Electronics Inc.]
  750 KB PDF Operator's Handbook (November 1990, OCR searchable) [Williams Electronics Inc.]
  204 KB TXT Parts List
  169 KB PDF Prototype Manual Addendum [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  230 KB PDF Prototype Sound Board Schematics And Part Numbers [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  3 MB PDF Setting and Operating Instructions (German, undated, OCR searchable, pages 1&2 state this is add'l info to original manual) [NOVA Apparate GMBH & Co.]
Service Bulletins: 5 KB PDF Service Bulletin #35 [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
Multimedia Files: 1 MB MP3 Jackpot Tune [Chris Granner]
Files: 10 MB MPG Anti-Gambling Television Commercial featuring Funhouse (circa Jan-2003) [Ryan Tanner]
  46 MB ZIP Operations Manual (November 1990, high-res schematics only, pages 3-10 to 3-12) [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  40 MB ZIP Operations Manual (November 1990, high-res schematics only, pages 3-13 to 3-15) [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  50 MB ZIP Operations Manual (November 1990, High-res schematics only, pages 3-2 to 3-6) [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  43 MB ZIP Operations Manual (November 1990, high-res schematics only, pages 3-7 to 3-9) [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
  179 KB PDF Prototype Service Update - Changes For Manufacturing [Williams Electronic Games, Inc.]
Images:
(click to zoom)
Image # 4642: Funhouse Flyer, Front
Flyer, Front

887x1153
 
Image # 4643: Funhouse Flyer, Back
Flyer, Back

887x1153
 
Image # 6507: Funhouse Translite
Translite

1024x768
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 7159: Funhouse Original Artworkfrom Expo '96
Original Artwork
from Expo '96

1005x657
[Mike Burke]
Image # 8815: Funhouse Autographed Translite 
(Pat Lawlor and Larry DeMar signatures are shown here.)
Autographed Translite*

1024x974
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 8816: Funhouse Playfield
Playfield

1024x1365
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 8817: Funhouse Lower Playfield
Lower Playfield

1024x768
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 8818: Funhouse Middle Playfield
Middle Playfield

1024x768
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 8819: Funhouse Upper Playfield
Upper Playfield

1024x768
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 8820: Funhouse 'Rudy' - The Talking, Ball Capturing Head
'Rudy' - The Talking, Ball Capturing Head

1024x768
[Philippe Thibault]
Image # 9849: Funhouse Blank Playfield
Blank Playfield

929x1645
[Christopher Wolf]
Image # 11227: Funhouse Press Release
Press Release

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Image # 15004: Funhouse Instruction card
Instruction card

1024x546
[Heinz-Peter Bader]
Image # 21162: Funhouse Cabinet - Full View
Cabinet - Full View

600x952
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21163: Funhouse Cabinet - Right
Cabinet - Right

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21164: Funhouse Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21165: Funhouse Backbox - Left
Backbox - Left

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21166: Funhouse Cabinet - Rear View
Cabinet - Rear View

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21167: Funhouse Backbox - Right
Backbox - Right

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21168: Funhouse Cabinet - Front
Cabinet - Front

500x364
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21283: Funhouse Playfield
Playfield

500x667
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21284: Funhouse Lower Playfield
Lower Playfield

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21285: Funhouse Rudy
Rudy

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21286: Funhouse Lower Right Playfield
Lower Right Playfield

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21287: Funhouse Middle Right Playfield
Middle Right Playfield

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21288: Funhouse Upper Right Playfield
Upper Right Playfield

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21289: Funhouse Lower Left Playfield
Lower Left Playfield

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21290: Funhouse Middle Left Playfield
Middle Left Playfield

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21291: Funhouse Upper Left Playfield
Upper Left Playfield

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21292: Funhouse Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21293: Funhouse Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21294: Funhouse Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21295: Funhouse Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21296: Funhouse Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21297: Funhouse Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21298: Funhouse Playfield - Detail
Playfield - Detail

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21299: Funhouse Under Playfield - Detail
Under Playfield - Detail

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21300: Funhouse Under Playfield - Detail
Under Playfield - Detail

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21301: Funhouse Under Playfield - Detail
Under Playfield - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21302: Funhouse Inside Cabinet
Inside Cabinet

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21303: Funhouse Inside Cabinet
Inside Cabinet

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21304: Funhouse Inside Cabinet
Inside Cabinet

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21305: Funhouse Translite - Reverse
Translite - Reverse

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21306: Funhouse Inside Backbox
Inside Backbox

350x467
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21307: Funhouse Inside Backbox - Detail
Inside Backbox - Detail

500x375
[Allen Shope]
Image # 21308: Funhouse Illuminated Backbox
Illuminated Backbox

600x724
[Allen Shope]
Image # 26574: Funhouse Diamond Plate Label 
(Playfield part number 310-1605-SP. The flipper shown here is not original to this game.)
Diamond Plate Label*

1024x768
[Adrian & Sarah Lodge]
Image # 30740: Funhouse Prototype & Early Production Control Boards
Prototype & Early Production Control Boards

1000x955
[Henri Naccache]
Image # 30741: Funhouse Prototype & Early Production System 11 Sound Board Adaptor
Prototype & Early Production System 11 Sound Board Adaptor

1000x924
[Henri Naccache]
Image # 37254: Funhouse Cardholder
Cardholder

1024x768
[Ian F. McKinnon]
Image # 37255: Funhouse Manufacturer Sticker
Manufacturer Sticker

768x1024
[Ian F. McKinnon]
Image # 40713: Funhouse Sketches Of Rudy 
(Signed by Larry DeMar, Pat Lawlor, and John Youssi)
Sketches Of Rudy*

1200x900
[Bobby Butara]
Image # 40981: Funhouse Promo Plastic
Promo Plastic

896x1208
[Brian Lee]
Image # 41412: Funhouse Playfield Plastics
Playfield Plastics

1021x1276
[Ian F. McKinnon]
Image # 43846: Funhouse Diamond Plate Label 
(Playfield part number 31-1607. Playfield located in Italy.)
Diamond Plate Label*

1200x900
 
Image # 44751: Funhouse Translite
Translite

1024x792
[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 44752: Funhouse Backbox - Left
Backbox - Left

627x1600
[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 44753: Funhouse Cabinet - Left
Cabinet - Left

1024x485
[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 44754: Funhouse Cabinet - Front
Cabinet - Front

1024x704
[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 44755: Funhouse Cabinet - Front View
Cabinet - Front View

1022x1600
[Jean-Pierre Renault]
Image # 50909: Funhouse Ball on Habitrail
Ball on Habitrail

1200x1600
[Rob Stog]
Image # 52466: Funhouse Under Playfield
Under Playfield

1200x1800
[Chris Hibler]
Image # 62981: Funhouse Translite
Translite

1200x836
 
Image # 73508: Funhouse System 11 Sound Board and Adapter 
(Serial number 50003 I575033.)
System 11 Sound Board and Adapter*

1200x687
[Federico Croci]
Image # 73509: Funhouse System 11 Sound Board 
(Serial number 50003 I575033.)
System 11 Sound Board*

1200x2135
[Federico Croci]
Image # 73510: Funhouse System 11 Adapter Board with PA-1 ROMs 
(Serial number 50003 I575033.)
System 11 Adapter Board with PA-1 ROMs*

1138x2025
[Federico Croci]
Image # 73511: Funhouse System 11 Backbox Insert - Reverse 
(Serial number 50003 I575033.)
System 11 Backbox Insert - Reverse*

1200x775
[Federico Croci]
Image # 73512: Funhouse System 11 Backbox Insert - Reverse - Detail 
(Serial number 50003 I575033.)
System 11 Backbox Insert - Reverse - Detail*

1200x795
[Federico Croci]
Image # 73513: Funhouse Wide Side Rails 
(System 11 game. Serial number 50003 I575033.)
Wide Side Rails*

1200x675
[Federico Croci]
 

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