FunHouse
Encyclopedia
FunHouse is a pinball
game designed by Pat Lawlor
. It was released in 1990 by Williams Electronics
. As its title suggests, the game is themed after the concept of a funhouse
, a walk-through amusement park featuring many attractions.
FunHouse features a talking doll head located near the upper-right corner of the playfield. The head, named Rudy, responds in real time 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
, and the technology behind Rudy's facial movements was dubbed "Pin-Mation" by Williams.
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 the current time by increments of five minutes with each successful shot. When the clock reaches 11:30, it stops advancing and the game announces that the FunHouse will close in thirty 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 and advances the clock to midnight. Rudy then falls asleep and his mouth remains open - to start Multiball, the player must shoot a ball into Rudy's mouth. 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.
Funhouse appears as a playable table on Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection
for the Wii, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360 and PS3.
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
game designed by Pat Lawlor
Pat Lawlor
Patrick M. Lawlor is a video game and pinball machine designer.Lawlor's pinball career began as an engineer for Williams in 1987, when he co-designed a dual-playfield machine called Banzai Run with Larry DeMar. Pat Lawlor had previously been a video game designer and had entered the coin-operated...
. It was released in 1990 by Williams Electronics
Williams (gaming company)
WMS Industries, Inc. is an American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company's main operating subsidiaries are WMS Gaming and Orion Gaming. WMS traces its roots as far back as 1943, the Williams Manufacturing Company, founded by Harry E. Williams...
. As its title suggests, the game is themed after the concept of a funhouse
Funhouse
A funhouse or fun house is an amusement facility found on amusement park and funfair midways in which patrons encounter and actively interact with various devices designed to surprise, challenge, and amuse the visitor. Unlike thrill rides, funhouses are participatory attractions, where visitors...
, a walk-through amusement park featuring many attractions.
FunHouse features a talking doll head located near the upper-right corner of the playfield. The head, named Rudy, responds in real time 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
Ed Boon
Edward J. Boon is an American video game programmer who had been employed for over 15 years at Midway. He now works for Warner Bros...
, and the technology behind Rudy's facial movements was dubbed "Pin-Mation" by Williams.
Rules
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 multiballMultiball
Multiball may refer to:* Multiball system, a method in association football where an assistant supplies another football when the original ball has gone out of play.* A situation in pinball where several balls are in play at the same time....
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 the current time by increments of five minutes with each successful shot. When the clock reaches 11:30, it stops advancing and the game announces that the FunHouse will close in thirty 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 and advances the clock to midnight. Rudy then falls asleep and his mouth remains open - to start Multiball, the player must shoot a ball into Rudy's mouth. 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.
Funhouse appears as a playable table on Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is a video game title from Crave Entertainment for the Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360. and Nintendo 3DS. Players play on a variety of classic virtual pinball machines from Williams Electronics' history...
for the Wii, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360 and PS3.