1989 · Bally
Mousin' Around!
Known for Mouse Hole, Mouse Traps, MOUSE and TRAP. Deep blue night sky background, jagged white comic-book starburst with halftone dot texture behind the title, black-and-white chequered floor strip across the lower third, dark bar counter with black railings at right, large green banknote graphic at upper left and red outer border with yellow keyline.
- Year
- 1989
- Maker
- Bally
- Type
- Solid state
- Display
- Alphanumeric
- Players
- 4
Known for
- Hole
Mouse Hole
- Lock
Mouse Traps
- Target
MOUSE
- Target
TRAP
- Goal
CHEESE
- Multiball
Mouse Trap Multiball
On the playfield
Ramp 1
- Left and right ramps
Orbit 1
- Big loop
Hole 1
- Mouse Hole
Lock 1
- Mouse Traps
Targets 4
- MOUSE
- TRAP
- 1-2-3 targets
- Cheese target
Lane 1
- Right lane
Lights 1
- Set Trap insert
On the backglass
Who and what
- animal Large brown anthropomorphic mouse at left, wide toothy grin, pink inner ears, black vest over a bright yellow shirt, one arm flung out with a giant open paw, holding a green banknote in the other hand
- animal Brown mouse in a red top and blue dungarees at lower left, holding a thick stack of green banknotes, big grin
- animal Brown mouse at centre wearing a white shirt with a yellow vest, one arm raised, standing on the chequered floor
- animal Orange-furred mouse at centre-right in a red shirt and blue dungarees with a strap across the chest, holding a fan of banknotes, mouth open in a grin
- animal Orange-tan mouse with closed eyes and a smug grin lying sprawled over the black counter at upper right, hand hanging over the edge
- creature Small tan cat-like figure in a red polka-dot bow tie inside a white cloud at the top-right corner, half-hidden
Setting
- Deep blue night sky background
- Jagged white comic-book starburst with halftone dot texture behind the title
- Black-and-white chequered floor strip across the lower third
- Dark bar counter with black railings at right
- Large green banknote graphic at upper left
- Red outer border with yellow keyline
Text on it
- MOUSIN'
- Around!!
- Bally
- BACKPOT
- 5,000,000
- 4,000,000
- 3,000,000
- 2,500,000
- 2,000,000
- 1,500,000
- 1,000,000
- REMOVE PROTECTIVE FILM
- ONE
How it plays
-
Modes 1
- 2x playfield
-
Multiballs 1
- Mouse Trap Multiball
-
Goals 1
- CHEESE
-
Awards 1
- Spot Mouse Trap Letter
Made by
- Design
- Ward Pemberton
- Art
- Pat McMahon
- Mechanics
- Greg Tastad
- Software
- Jim Strompolis
- Sound & Music
- Dan Forden
Reference
Linked terms
- Mouse Traps also called Mouse Trap locks
- MOUSE also called MOUSE target bank
- TRAP also called TRAP target bank
- 1-2-3 targets also called Center 1-2-3 bank
- Big loop also called Left orbit
- Left and right ramps also called Side ramps
- Right lane also called Right return lane
- Cheese target also called INCREASE target
- CHEESE also called Cheese letters
- 2x playfield also called Double Scoring also called Double Playfield also called INCREASE
Playfield vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Playfield
- cream
- yellow
- red
- teal blue
Fingerprint: Enormous grinning ape head heavy-hatched centre playfield, smaller monkey characters around (vests, trousers, hats), yellow-lightning-bolt panels lower sides with red pop-bumper caps reading SPOTS, red BONUS flags each side, yellow ENEMY banner diagonally across lower-middle, three pop-bumpers with chrome wire-cages upper-third, clear plastic ramps arcing upper half, black-speckled starfield background, cream-red-mustard-teal-black limited palette, cross-hatched comic-strip cartoon
The centrepiece is a huge, near-full-width cartoon ape head with a toothy grin and heavy black hatching, unlike the usual sci-fi or heraldic playfield art. Four smaller monkey characters are arranged around it, two of them side by side in the lower half, each clutching a dark wedge-shaped object, and one at the lower centre wearing a broad flat-brimmed hat. A long yellow banner reading THE ENEMY runs diagonally across the lower middle behind the monkey figures. Two symmetrical yellow lightning-bolt panels dominate the lower left and lower right, each carrying red round bumper caps and the word SPOTS, with a red flag marked BONUS on each side. The whole playfield sits on a black field speckled with white flecks, overprinted with large yellow and red five-pointed stars. Three caged pop bumpers, multiple clear plastic ramps, and a wire spinner/ratchet on the left rail give the upper half a dense, mechanical look.
Setting
- Black ground peppered with white fleck speckle, printed as a night sky
- Large flat yellow and red five-pointed stars scattered over the black ground
- Cream-coloured rectangular panel behind the central cartoon head
- Teal-blue lightning-bolt geometry on both lower sides
- Printed backboard visible at the very bottom edge in teal-blue with red and yellow trim
Symbols
- Five-pointed stars, large flat yellow and red, scattered over the black speckled field
- Yellow lightning bolts, one per lower side lane
- Red triangular flags marked bonus, one on each side
- Red circular pop-bumper caps set into the lightning bolts
- Chrome wire ball guides and spinner ratchet blades
- Small white star outline decals on the red side aprons
- Black stepped grille graphic in the lower centre
- A speech balloon with lettering above the central figures
Notable shapes
- A long yellow lightning-bolt panel on each lower side, angled inward
- A diagonal yellow enemy banner across the lower centre
- Large cream rectangular panel framing the central ape head
- Arched clear plastic ramp spanning the upper playfield
- Triangular slingshot faces angled toward the centre
- Stepped black grille shape in the lower centre between the flippers
Art motifs
- Cross-hatched ink shading in the cartoon figures
- Spot/comic dot pattern on the cream panel behind the big ape head
- Checkerboard and starburst triangular inserts around the side lanes
- Diagonal yellow banner crossing the lower centre
- Speech balloon captioning the upper central figure
- Red, white and yellow star decals on both side aprons
Themes
- Comic-strip cartoon
- Apes and monkey characters
- Starfield and night sky
- Lightning bolts
- Bowling trophy motif
- Bonus and spots scoring
- Carnival/exhibition branding
Text on it
- ADVANCE
- LETTER
- SPEED
- GAME OVER
- RE-ENTER
- SHOOT AGAIN
- GOT THE BOWL
- BOWL TROPHY SOCKS
- COMBO
- SPOTS
- BONUS
- RED
- ENEMY
- TWO BALL
- IN EXHIBITION
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Other | Enormous grinning ape head occupying the centre of the playfield, cream coloured with heavy black cross-hatching, thick dark brows, wide toothy muzzle showing squared teeth, and a broad nose; only the head and shoulders are drawn, with a hand and forearm at the right holding a small striped object. |
| Other | Smaller ape in a red vest over a white shirt, cream fur, dark muzzle, grinning, arms raised with hands splayed, positioned just right of the big head and beneath the wire ramp. |
| Other | Ape in red trousers with a jagged yellow lightning-bolt outline around its body, cream fur, dark muzzle, crouched with both hands gripping a dark grey triangular wedge object. |
| Other | Ape in a blue vest with yellow trim, cream fur, dark muzzle and bared teeth, leaning forward and clutching the same style of dark triangular wedge. |
| Other | Ape head and shoulders wearing a wide flat-brimmed brown hat, drawn small in the gap between the two large yellow flippers, with a black stepped grille or shutter graphic beneath it. |
| Other | Two comic-style male heads printed on the right side plastics near the upper right, one in a red and yellow panel and another above it, both drawn in the same cross-hatched ink style. |
A brightly lit single-level pinball playfield photographed from the front, with the backbox score panel cropped along the top edge and the two flippers and apron filling the bottom. The art is a comic-strip cartoon in a limited palette of cream, red, mustard yellow, teal-blue and black line work. Dominating the centre is a large grinning ape-faced head with heavy brows and a broad muzzle, rendered in cross-hatched ink; around it are several smaller monkey figures. Bold yellow lightning-bolt shapes on a blue ground run down both lower side lanes, studded with round red pop-bumper caps. Three pop bumpers with chrome wire cages sit in a tight row in the upper third, behind which clear plastic ramps arc from side to side. Red star decals scatter over a black-speckled starfield background. Slingshots, a wire gate and a small plunger-area plaque complete the lower third. Condition shows mild playfield wear and a few surface scratches on the plastics.
Backglass vision analysis
Written by a machine from the photos, so details may be off.
Backglass
- blue
- yellow
- red
- black
Fingerprint: Four anthropomorphic grinning mice in colourful shirts and dungarees holding banknotes, enormous mouse face upper left, fifth orange mouse sprawled over dark counter, giant microphone, green US banknote marked 'ONE', yellow die with black pips, chequered floor, yellow stars, title 'MOUSIN' Around!!' in white comic-starburst, yellow block tower at right with 'BACKPOT' banner, bright cartoon style
Four grinning cartoon mice in colourful shirts and dungarees waving and counting banknotes, with one enormous grinning mouse face at upper left. Behind them a fifth orange mouse lies sprawled over a black counter. The title sits in a jagged comic-book starburst with quotation marks either side. A green United States banknote marked ONE is tucked at the upper left, and a tiny yellow die with black pips faces the viewer at bottom centre.
Setting
- Deep blue night sky background
- Jagged white comic-book starburst with halftone dot texture behind the title
- Black-and-white chequered floor strip across the lower third
- Dark bar counter with black railings at right
- Large green banknote graphic at upper left
- Red outer border with yellow keyline
Symbols
- Jagged comic speech-burst
- Quotation marks around the title
- Green banknote
- Stack of banknotes
- Yellow die with black pips
- Microphone on stand
- Yellow star shapes
- Yellow tower of score blocks with red numerals
- Tape measure or ruler graphic at right edge
- White safety sticker reading remove protective film
Lettering
- Slanted bold sans-serif block capitals, yellow with orange shading and thick black outline, tilted within a white halftone starburst; manufacturer name in red-and-yellow cursive script top left; score values in small red condensed numerals on yellow blocks
Themes
- Cartoon mice
- Banknotes and money
- Counter gambling den
- Microphone
- Comic book starburst
- Dice and game
- Night sky with stars
- Chequered floor
Title on it
- "mousin' around!!"
Text on it
- MOUSIN'
- Around!!
- Bally
- BACKPOT
- 5,000,000
- 4,000,000
- 3,000,000
- 2,500,000
- 2,000,000
- 1,500,000
- 1,000,000
- REMOVE PROTECTIVE FILM
- ONE
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Animal | Large brown anthropomorphic mouse at left, wide toothy grin, pink inner ears, black vest over a bright yellow shirt, one arm flung out with a giant open paw, holding a green banknote in the other hand |
| Animal | Brown mouse in a red top and blue dungarees at lower left, holding a thick stack of green banknotes, big grin |
| Animal | Brown mouse at centre wearing a white shirt with a yellow vest, one arm raised, standing on the chequered floor |
| Animal | Orange-furred mouse at centre-right in a red shirt and blue dungarees with a strap across the chest, holding a fan of banknotes, mouth open in a grin |
| Animal | Orange-tan mouse with closed eyes and a smug grin lying sprawled over the black counter at upper right, hand hanging over the edge |
| Creature | Small tan cat-like figure in a red polka-dot bow tie inside a white cloud at the top-right corner, half-hidden |
A painted, cartoon-style backglass with a thick red outer border and a yellow inner keyline. The top third is a white comic-starburst panel with halftone dots, carrying the title in two lines: MOUSIN' in huge slanted yellow block capitals with black inline shadow, and Around!! in orange-yellow below, flanked by double quotation marks. A red-and-yellow cursive manufacturer script logo sits in the top-left corner. Four anthropomorphic mice dominate the centre: a large grinning brown mouse in a yellow shirt and black vest with outstretched arms, a second brown mouse in a red top and blue dungarees holding a stack of banknotes, a third in a blue-and-white shirt with a yellow vest reaching up, and a fourth at right with orange fur in a red shirt and blue dungarees clutching a fan of notes. Behind them at right a fifth grinning orange-furred mouse lies sprawled over a dark counter. Backgrounds include a deep blue night sky, small yellow-and-white stars, a black-and-white chequered floor, a giant microphone on a stand, and a green US banknote at upper left. Along the right edge a tower of yellow blocks carries red score figures under a white BACKPOT banner.
Backglass
- orange
- black
- blue
- cream
Fingerprint: Enormous sneering bully mouse left in flat orange with huge toothy grin and splayed clawed fingers, real orange tabby cat sprawled on wooden barrel beside vertical column of red-yellow jackpot panels, yellow starburst explosion with MOUSE Around! title, small grey mouse with round spectacles in red tank top, mousetrap with cheese wedge, scattered dice and cards
The most memorable element is the enormous sneering bully mouse on the left, in flat orange with a huge toothy grin and splayed clawed fingers, lunging across the frame. Second is a real orange tabby cat sprawled on a wooden barrel structure beside a vertical column of red-and-yellow jackpot panels. A yellow starburst explosion shape carries the title, and a very small grey mouse with round spectacles and a red tank top kneels bottom-left beside a sprung mousetrap holding a wedge of cheese.
Setting
- Checkered black-and-white tiled floor in the foreground
- Blue starry night sky behind the title
- Stacked wooden crates and barrels mid-right
- Playground slide and climbing frame at left
- Gutter downpipe and brick wall at far right
Symbols
- Playing cards
- Scattered dice
- Alarm clock
- Yellow and red five-pointed stars
- Jagged comic starburst
- Red lightning bolt next to jackpot
- Sprung mousetrap
- Cheese wedge
- Star-and-x patterned reel windows
- Rolled newspaper clipping
Lettering
- Large orange block capitals with dark red inline shading and black outline on a comic-style jagged yellow starburst; red cursive script maker logo upper left
Themes
- Cartoon mice
- Cat and mouse
- Arcade cartoon
- Jackpot ladder
- Mousetrap
- Playground
Title on it
- Mouse around!
Text on it
- MOUSE
- Around!
- HIT NICK
- EXTRA BALL WHEN LIT
- JACKPOT
- 5,000,000
- 4,000,000
- 3,000,000
- 2,000,000
- © 1985 MIDWAY MFG. CO.
- MANUFACTURER OF BALLY AMUSEMENT GAMES
- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
| Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Animal | Giant bully mouse, left, orange fur, black flat cap, dark navy sweater, huge two-toothed grin, both hands splayed with long claws |
| Animal | Skinny mouse centre in mid-leap, brown fur, red open shirt, blue trousers, holding a playing card, mouth open |
| Animal | Small grey mouse bottom centre-left with round spectacles, red tank top, green shorts, kneeling on the tiled floor |
| Animal | Grey-brown mouse bottom right in red baseball cap and blue jeans, sly half-closed eyes and grin, fanning playing cards |
| Animal | Orange tabby cat lying on a wooden barrel-topped structure mid-right, half-closed eyes |
| Animal | Orange cat with big curled tail top right, emerging from a puffy white cloud |
| Other | Yellow wedge of cheese with holes, sitting upright inside a sprung wooden mousetrap at bottom centre |
A wide rectangular backglass with an orange-and-gold border framing a cartoon scene. The top third is dominated by a jagged yellow starburst outlined in red, carrying the title 'MOUSE Around!' in big orange block letters with dark red inline shading, and a small angled tag reading 'HIT NICK' beneath it. A red scripted logo sits upper left, and a rolled newspaper clipping pinned beside it reads 'EXTRA BALL WHEN LIT'. Five cartoon mice fill the play area: a huge grinning bully mouse in a cap and sweater looming at left with splayed fingers; a skinny mouse in a red shirt and blue trousers sprinting across centre with a playing card; a smaller bespectacled mouse in a red tank top and green shorts kneeling at bottom centre-left; a grinning, half-closed-eyed mouse in a red cap and blue jeans at bottom right clutching cards; and an orange cat in a puffy white cloud at top right with 'JACKPOT' under it. A real orange tabby cat lies on a wooden barrel-topped structure mid-right, above a vertical column of red and yellow jackpot panels reading 5,000,000 down to 2,000,000. Bottom centre shows a sprung mousetrap with a cheese wedge and scattered dice, playing cards and an alarm clock. Bottom edge has two banks of star-and-X patterned reel windows flanking a red digit window. Colours: orange and amber, black, blue, cream.