Pinball

Pinball. Also called a flipper, flask or millionaire, it is a mechanical game, electromechanical or electronic based on a ball driven by a spring that runs on a board with various designs adorned with various electronic components whose contact with the ball gives a certain score to the player, the Ball was re-projected onto the board by paddles or flippers.

History

The origin of the flipper (Pinball) dates back to the 18th century , precisely in France, with a fairly rudimentary game called BAGATELLE, which consisted of a horizontal aiming board, mounted on a table, which had a series of holes and stops of wood, those that determined the path of the ball. This device was very famous in Europe at that time.

In the mid- 19th century in the USA , the wooden stops of the BAGATELLE were replaced by metal nails, which gave it the name of PINBALL. In 1817 , Montague Red-Egrave patented a bagaleta version in Ohio ( USA ), a game similar to billiards, which presented as an innovation the slight inclination of the table, a launcher operated by a spring and some nails (pins) between the holes into which the ball could fall, and which were intended to divert its course.

Nine years later, the [Sicking Manufacturing Company] decided to add profit to the game and introduced a coin-operated model. Paradoxically, during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Pinballs helped Americans escape their daily hardships, but the real success came after World War II , from the hand of Harry Mabs . This designer of Pinballs created small rubber flippers with which, by pressing a button, the player could prevent the ball from reaching the exit hole, and which have become essential since then.

Versions

• 1860 The North American version of the game was renamed TIVOLI, becoming very popular and its manufacturing growing at breakneck levels.
• 1871 Monty Redgrave patents the ball launcher, with this invention Redgrave was awarded the title of “father of pinball” in the USA, His unique and effective invention remains to this day.
• 1900 Electricity is incorporated into the Pinball.
• 1920 The “WHIFFLE” was born, with the characteristic of including a purse.
• 1931 David Gottlieb introduces BAFFLE BALL, the first Pinball machine built and sold on a massive scale, over 60,000 units were manufactured.
• 1932 Harry Williams , a visionary, introduces the ADVANCE game, which includes a mechanism that later evolves into TILT. “BALLY” is born, created by Ray Maloney , a former Gottlieb distributor, who debuted with the famous game BALLYHOO.
• 1933 Electricity is incorporated into the game, as the first lighting sketches. In the USA there are more than 75 companies that manufacture Pinball machines.
• 1934 “CONTACT” created by H. Williams includes the first mechanical parts.
• 1935 Harry Williams produces the “JIGSAW” machine for the ROCKOLA company. The electromagnet is introduced for the first time in play called “FLEET” by BALLY.
• 1936 The first sketch of Bumpers appears on a BALLY machine called “BUMPERS.” Alternating current begins to be used.
• 1937 The machines proliferate with a vertical board (future header) where the punctuation or graphic alluding to the game stands out. This element evolved into what we now call “BACKGLASS”
• 1941 The production of Pinballs suffers a stagnation, due to the arrival of the second

World War.

• 1946 Williams company makes its debut with Pinball “SUSPENCE”, which quickly became a colossus in the electronic games industry.
• 1947 Gottlieb launches the popular “HUMPTY DUMPTY”, the first Pinball with flippers, distributed throughout the game deck, which opens up the possibility of keeping the ball in play, thanks to the flippers and the skill of the player.
• 1948 Bally officially presents his great discovery: The “Bumpers”, which quickly

They were incorporated by the other companies with other names.

• 1950 Gottlieb adds the “Kikers” to its machines, automatic rebound mechanisms, which remain to this day, giving the game more action and speed.
• 1954 The first 4-player Pinball is released, called “Super Jumbo”, from D.Gottlieb’s company, which also this year replaced the scoreboards with lights for rotary score clocks.
• 1955 Mechanical animated pieces begin to be introduced into the backglass.
• 1956 The MULTIBALL system was born, it works with 6 simultaneous balls, it is from BALLY and it is called “Balls-a-popin”.
• 1957 Wooden legs (ash) are replaced by metal ones. The edges of the cabinet are also modernized with metal bars.
• 1960 The “EXTRABALL” (extra ball) system debuts on a Gottlieb machine called “Flipper”.
• 1961 Williams releases “Space Ship”, the last of the light-based scoring system games.
• 1962 “DROP TARGETS” (cards) are incorporated, when hitting them with the ball they hide.
• 1963 The scoring “BONUSES” appear.
• 1964 Bally presents a great innovation, an automatic ball exit system, until now the player did it with a manual system.
• 1965 In Gottlieb’s “Bank A Ball”, the first double corridor appears at the sides of the kikers, which gives the ball 2 possibilities: That of returning to the paddle (flipper) or exiting the game.
• 1966 Bally launches his “Bazaar” model, which includes a paddle system that moves over the playfield, varying the opening between them, this invention did not prosper.
• 1968 Increases the size of the flippers, from mini to jumbo (from 6.30 cm to 7.50 cm)
• 1971 “Challenger” appears the first Pinball in which 2 players face simultaneously, one at each end.
• 1972 Pinball machines are legalized in Los Angeles, after 33 years of secrecy.
• 1975 Chicago Coin markets “Super Flipper”, the first Pinball game that includes a video screen.
• 1976 Pinballs are legalized in New York. Columbia Pictures buys the Gottlieb factory for $ 55 million.
• 1976 Bally releases a model with a spinning disc in the playfield (Fireball).
• 1977 Bally launches a best seller “Eight Ball” with 20,230 units. Atari makes his debut in the Pinball realm with “Atarians”, the first wide body Pinball.
• 1978 Williams presents a variation on the shape of his flippers: “Banana”, which are characterized by a remarkable curvature. This innovation was applied in 2 models: “Disco Fever” and “Time Warp”.
• 1979 Williams releases “Flash” the first with 100% electronic sound effects. The first chattering Pinball is born, it is from Williams and it is called “Gorgar”.
• 1980 Williams launches “Firepower”, the first electronic Pinball with MULTIBALL system. This same year they present “Black Knight”, the first game with 2 floors and magnets under the playfield (MAGNA SAVE), later used in “Jungle Lord and” Solar Fire “Bally launches his first Pinball with voice” Xenon “.
• 1981 Gottlieb surprises with the first 3-story Pinball “Haunted House”.
• 1982 Stern closes his pinball production.
• 1983 Harry Williams, considered the Thomas Edison of the Pinball world, dies.
• 1984 Gottlieb is sold, changing its name to Premier.
• 1985 Bally releases a remake of a hugely successful “Fireball Clasic”.
• 1986 For the first time photography is used in the manufacture of a Backglass, in “Raven”, by Premier.
• 1987 A new manufacturer appears: Data East, debuts with “Laser War” that includes Stereo sound. Stern partners with Data East.
• 1988 Bally Company buys Williams.
• 1989 Data East incorporates integrated circuit controlled flippers into its machines.
• 1991 Dot matrix displays are introduced.
• 1992 “The Addams Family” earns the title of the best-selling Pinball of all time.
• 1995 The Capcom firm appears, manufacturing only 6 models in a year, after this short production it disappears.
• 1996 Premier closes its Pinballs division. Williams launches a new PINBALL 2,000 proposal, a merger between Pinball and video game. They only release 2 models with this system “Revenge From Mars” and “Star Wars, Episode I”.
• 1999 Williams withdraws from the market, with this event many end the Pinball industry.
• 2000 Stern with a short run launches “Striker Xtreme” Crisis in the world of electronic games.
• 2001 Stern launches “Austin Powers” Currently it is the only company that is officially producing Pinballs. Among the latest Stern titles are: Playboy, The Simpsons Party Pinball, Monopoly, The Lords Of The Rings, Ripley “s.