Scared Stiff

Scared Stiff, designed by Dennis Nordman and Mark Weyna for Midway Manufacturing Company (a WMS Industries subsidiary, released under the Bally trade name), debuted in September 1996 on the Williams WPC-95 platform. With 4,028 confirmed units produced, it embodies a horror-and-celebrities theme headlined by Elvira, "the sexiest vamp this side of Transylvania," with character voices provided by Tim Kitzrow.

Scared Stiff's gameplay features two flippers and three pop bumpers, but its signature attraction is the mechanical backbox animation: a spider that spins around when a ball falls into a playfield trap. Pressing a flipper button stops the spider and awards the indicated feature, a clever mechanic that ties directly into the horror theme. Artist Greg Freres brought the Elvira-and-horror aesthetic to life across the cabinet and playfield.

Weighing in at an actual measured weight of 262 pounds (including legs), Scared Stiff is a substantial machine that commands attention in any collection. Note that the Skull Pile in the playfield's upper right corner did not have light-up eyes from the factory - any examples with LED skull eyes, or with dancing boogeymen kickers, have had after-factory modifications. With its blend of innovative gameplay mechanics and horror-comedy charm, Scared Stiff remains a beloved title among collectors.