September was the month for the introduction of this game. Both solid-state and mechanical versions were produced (9,950 versus 550 units, respectively). Ed Krynski designed the machine with art by Gordon Morison. A roto-target was incorporated into the upper right of the game, a Gottlieb exclusive. Hitting the A-B-C rollovers lights up the extra ball target and increases the value of the roto-targets as well as the drop target values. Knocking down all the drop targets increases the bonus multiplier value. The second time this feat is completed lights the special roto-target value. This game also features a bonus advance bank which increases to 20,000 points and a two to five times bonus multiplier feature. Score is the other way to win games.
Gottlieb released the game “Sinbad” in both solid-state and electromechanical formats in June of the year. Designed by Ed Krynski with art by Gordon Morison, there were 12,000 S.S. games and 950 E.M. games made. This machine is the rare two-player version of the game, of which 730 were made. Drop targets are the main theme of this game. Knocking down the single white drop target awards a 2x bonus and lights the white rollover. The three yellow drops were next. If hit, 3x bonus is awarded when the ball drains and the 5,000 rollover lights at the top of the playfield. The four purple drops were next. Making these would award 4x bonus and light the extra ball rollover. Finally, the five red drops; when hit would award 5x bonus (the maximum bonus that could register is 15,000 points times the bonus) as well as light the special rollover. Four flippers allowed for interesting play, also.
Bally released Evel Knievel in June of the year. Both electromechanical and solid-state versions of the game were fabricated. The reason two different platforms were made was due to the newness of the solid-state platform not being fully trusted or many arcade operators not being versed in the solid-state computerized machines. The “old faithful” mechanical versions used the same technology since the beginning of pinball that included relays, steppers,and score motors. This game was produced in mass quantity in the solid-state format with 14,000 pieces being fabricated. This game is one of only 155 made. This is probably one of the best examples of this rare run of machines. The play parallels the solid-state version, but an accumulated memory of targets hit isn’t stored in memory and awarded. This game just remembers your last hit of the last target. Enjoy!
This flipperless, non-electric machine was designed by the Rock-ola company in Chicago. Rock-ola made a bunch of these mechanical games in the distant past and then claimed fame in the jukebox world. This game was rolled out to celebrate the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois. The advertising for this machine claimed it was the “mightiest sensation ever developed for your profit!” The machine incorporates a jigsaw puzzle of the World’s Fair. The two top mystery pockets will randomly spot a column of the puzzle if landed in. Five skill pockets are below these, which spot a specific column of the puzzle. The lower pockets spot one, two, three, and four blocks from top to bottom when landed in. The puzzle resets after each coin is inserted. A game consists of ten balls and the price for the new machine was $31.50 back then. Automatic score totaling was designed into the game. 70,000 were made.
This game was designed by Greg Kmiec with artwork by Christian Marche. A production run of 7,630 games were produced in electromechanical format. This would be a rare game with only 22 units being produced in solid-state electronics. This was because Bally was officially converting to solid-state pinball architecture at this point in time. Diehard operators who weren’t versed in maintaining a solid-state electronic game shied away from the new technology until such a point where they learned how they worked or the operators felt this technology would, if fact, be the next generation of pinball. The playfield in this game is relatively open with a bonus feature the main attraction. Collecting the bonus is thru the outhole (when you lose a ball) or the left eject hole. An A, B, C and D sequence feature as well as specials are designed into the game rules.
