Survey Says: Favorite Pinball Callouts
By Taylor Bancroft
We asked some of y’all what ur fave callouts were.
Here’s what y’all said (duh).
People like pinball callouts. Whether it’s a one-liner that reminds you of your Long Island Italian uncles (insert clip from Bally’s 1989 Mousin’ Around) or just a heavy-handed pun about vampire seduction - everyone has a favorite. Our job as top-tier journalists for Nudge Magazine is to do the heavy digging and find out which pinball quiz cracks shine the brightest in the community. Unsurprisingly, you all responded with callouts across a wide range of titles. We get it - you have seasoned and sophisticated taste. (editor’s note: true.)
That being said, three themes kept coming up; With each response, a different quip. What are these machines so popular and what made them annihilate the callout game? Here are the big three:
Monster Bash took the show as the game with the most beloved callouts. No one can deny the brilliance of a perfectly executed pun. Nothing soothes the tension of your muscles mid-game like the Bride of Frankenstein in all her glory shouting “I hear he has a monstrous organ!”. Even if that doesn’t do it for you, there’s nothing like the confidence boost you get from the Creature from the Black Lagoon flattering you with “Nobody knows the scales like you!”From these responses, it is clear that Monster Bash’s treasure chest of puns takes the Grammy. They’ll see you at the after-party. Just watch out for the great seductor: Dracula. He’s known to “mesmerize you with his semi-circular motion.” (editor’s note: Yeeeeeeeesh)
In a similar vein of punny brilliance, Elivra’s House of Horrors came in a close second. The Mistress of the Dark is revered for her dirty forepla- I MEAN wordplay, (editor’s note: heyooooo. Wait, am I just becoming a glorified hype man in these articles? Sorry, Taylor.) and we are here for it.
To quote one respondee, “Mosquitos? Leeches? Vampires? LAWYERS??!” is an absolute classic. Or the evergreen, “These guys are really stiff... Hey, I'm talking about their acting!!!!"
In third, we have a lifetime achievement award for The Addams Family. It may be the oldest of the lot, but it’s gotten lots of love from the pinball community. Gomez shouting “SHOWTIME!” or “YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU” on the dirty pool shot kept coming up over and over again. Y’all are creepy AND cooky.
We asked, you answered
Here is a smattering of Nudge folks, pinball people, and general whosits that Taylor interviewed as part of this story. This is hard-hitting journalism at its finest. ITS MOST RAW. Are you ready? Like, get it together dude. You’re gonna want to keep your head on a swivel. Sheesh. - Doc
“Don’t touch the door!” Is my favorite. It’s crescendo-ing and weird and hard to understand… and a great way to start a multiball
Anna
“My favorite callout I think is just “you have the magic” from Theatre of Magic. It was one of the first games I got really attached to and hearing a female voiceover was different, especially an encouraging/uplifting one and I think that’s rad so she’s always stuck with me”
Lindsey
“Hey Biff, how ‘bout a hot dog?” - Rudy. I used to think he was saying, “hey Bitch, how ‘bout a hot dog?” The aggression in his voice always makes me giggle.
Julia
What do y’all think? What’d we miss? What are the fave callouts? Hit that big ole doinkin’ button and tell us urself.
