(Topic ID: 8258)

Pinsiders pinball firsts quiz

By soren

12 years ago


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    #1 12 years ago

    Hey everybody

    The best pinball community of the internet deserves something nice for the season. So dear Pinsiders, to celebrate the history of pinball, I hope you will join in on the persuit to find pinball firsts.

    The following goes for CPU controlled, production pinball machines for commercial distribution and operation in public only. No toys, no protos.

    Where a feature was essentially debuted on a non CPU controlled game or a prototype, it may be mentioned as well.

    I know this will be a heck of a job to maintain. But I will. So don't hesitate to contribute, check the facts and nail these precisely. It will be fun.

    Name game and year of release.

    First CPU controlled pingame? Bow And Arrow, 1974 (Possibly Wipe-Out, 1974)
    First playfield flipper? Getaway, 1977
    First (exact) 4 flippers? The Atarians, 1976
    First 5 or more flippers? Genie, 1979
    First quick multi-ball (multi-ball started as a mode without achieving locks first)? Centaur, 1981
    First ramp only shootable via playfield flipper? High Speed, 1986???
    First playfield flipper shoot return loop? Flash, 1979
    First alpha numeric display? Chicago Cubs "Triple Play", 1985
    First dot matrix display? Check Point, 1991
    First multi colour display? The Simpson's Pinball Party, 2004
    First playfield display? Black Hole, 1981 (TV monitor used on playfield on Caveman, 1982. Atari games featured a display on the apron.)
    First LCD display? New Canasta, 2011
    First multi-ball? Firepower, 1980 Solid State Maybe but there were a few EMs with MB.
    First (exact) 2-ball multi-ball (via lock, not mode)? Scorpion, 1980 (Honorable mention to Beat The Clock, 1963)
    First (exact) 3-ball multi-ball? Firepower, 1980
    First (exact) 4-ball multi-ball? Joust, 1983
    First (exact) 5-ball multi-ball? Centaur, 1981
    First (exact) 6-ball multi-ball? Twilight Zone, 1993
    First more than 6 balls multi-ball? Apollo 13, 1995
    First electronic sound? Lost World, 1977
    First speech? Gorgar, 1979
    First female speech? Xenon, 1979
    First polyphonic audio (dual sound effect, music and sound effect simultaniously etc.)?
    First true stereo sound? Lazer War, 1987
    First compressed digital sound? Indiana Jones - The Pinball Adventure, 1993???
    First 2 or more loudspeakers? Heavy Metal Meltdown, 1987
    First loudspeaker in the backbox?
    First player selectable music track? Check Point, 1991???
    First shaker motor? Earthshaker, 1988
    First DC motor in general?
    First scoop with ball eject?
    First trap door (device taking ball under the playfield only when enabled)?
    First under playfield ball transport (non trough)?
    First wizard mode? Banzai Run, 1988 (Debatable)
    First complete blackout? Blackout, 1980
    First interactive backglass (not just mechanical/animated backglass)? Catacomb, 1981 (Honorable mention to Banzai Run, 1988)
    First use of a non steel ball? Twilight Zone, 1993 (Wink to Hercules, 1979, but that is disqualified)
    First flash lamp? Flash, 1979
    First under playfield flash lamp? Flash, 1979
    First ramp lift, for under the ramp shot? Mars God of War, 1981
    First second level flipper return?
    First second level playfield? Black Knight, 1980 (Flash Gordon was first game released, but the design was stolen from Black Knight developement)
    First ramp sending the ball into free air? Space Shuttle, 1986
    First ramp used without having a second level playfield? Xenon, 1979
    First under playfield, playfield? Elektra, 1981
    First trible playfield? Elektra, 1981
    First solenoid powered multilevel ball transport? Haunted House, 1981
    First licensed theme? Wizard, 1975 (Accepted as an EM)
    First "real life" music rewrote for pinball? Kiss, 1978
    First playfield trough, or secondary trough in general?
    First mechanical sound source (non knocker)? Hot Tip, 1977
    First progressive jackpot? High Speed, 1986
    First super jackpot? Terminator II, 1991
    First alternative language option, display text?
    First alternative language option, speech? Pinball Champ, 1983???
    First timed goal or mode (general)? Counter Force, 1980
    First timed playfield multiplier? The Party Zone, 1991???
    First use of a lane diverter (playfield bottom, outlane ball saver etc.)? Time 2000, 1977
    First use of a lane diverter (not at playfield bottom)?
    First use of a ramp diverter? High Speed, 1986
    First use of magnetic ramp or lane diverter? World Cup Soccer, 1994
    First electro magnet affecting the ball in general? Gorgar, 1979
    First under playfield magnet transporting the ball on playfield? Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1993
    First magnet lifting the ball into free air? Banzai Run, 1988
    First mechanical, non CPU controlled, lane alternator or similar? The Machine: Bride Of Pinbot, 1992
    First adjustment for competition mode? Funhouse, 1990 (Fixed start selection for semi-randomly lit award / Both lock-shots and MB start must be achieved on same ball)
    First adjustment for competition mode involving making playfield locks virtual? Cirqus Voltaire, 1997
    First adjustment for competition mode involving single award or fixed sequence for otherwise random award? The Getaway - High Speed II, 1992
    First single adjustment for absolutely no extra balls? Eight Ball, 1977
    First game on display (video mode)? Terminator 2, 1992
    First interactive display in general (non high score initials)?
    First to second level ball popper (vertical, non scoop or otherwise basement to playfield)?
    First deliberate air ball or cannon (non vertical)? Comet, 1985
    First playfield ball plunger triggered by the player? Terminator 2, 1992???
    First player individual drain-to-next-ball carrie over status (non score), in multi-player games? Eight Ball, 1977
    First buy-in extra ball or similar? Torpedo Ally, 1988
    First opto ball detection? Nostalgia, 1977
    First inductive ball detection? The Atarians, 1976
    First opto flipper button? Robocop, 1990???
    First CPU controlled flippers? Robocop, 1990
    First more than two player buttons on side of the cabinet? Haunted House, 1981
    First digital sound (ROM based)?
    First compressed digital music?
    First multi-ball restart option when no jackpot achieved? Banzai Run, 1988
    First artwork changed during production due controvesy, missing licens etc.? Capt. Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy, 1976 (Accepted as an EM. Too awesome.)
    First ball interacting playfield toy? Comet, 1985
    First use of LED lighting?
    First use of UV-lighting? Viper Night Drivin', 1998??? (Honorable mention to Big Bang Bar, 1996)
    First use of strobe lighting? Attack From Mars, 1996
    First use of neon lighting? Devil Riders, 1984
    First game with no manual plunger? Spring Break, 1987 (Honorable mention to Goin' Nuts, 1983)
    First flipper to flipper bi-directional orbit (full side to side and all the way back)?
    First captive ball? Airborne Avenger, 1977
    First newton ball? Theatre Of Magic, 1995
    First motorises spinning disc on playfield? Fireball Classic, 1985 (Fireball, 1971)
    First second level wire form - habitrail? Firepower II, 1983 and Big Guns, 1987
    First second level bridge without rails? Escape From The Lost World, 1987???
    First player controlled missing/achieved target switching (lane change)? Firepower, 1980
    First playfield angle/leveling assist? The Addams Family, 1991
    First hinged backbox? Elektra, 1981
    First high score and settings persisted when game switched off?
    First backbox topper? Hercules, 1979
    First modern style non glass translite? Rock, 1985
    First adjustable outlanes?
    First auto diagnostics error report on power up and/or enter menu? High Speed, 1986
    First drained ball kick back? Eight Ball, 1977
    First TV monitor? Caveman, 1982
    First timed ball saver? Laser Cue, 1984 (Honorable mention to F-14 Tomcat, 1987, Funhouse, 1990 and Terminator 2, 1992)
    First solenoid shooter lane plunger (for ball saver, multi-ball auto kick in)? Centaur, 1981 (Attract mode feature only) / Spectrum, 1981
    First 7-digit scoring (million "1" light)? Sharpshooter, 1979
    First 7-digit scoring (seventh 0-9 digit)? Big Game, 1980
    First more than 7-digit scoring?
    First 4 colour silk screen process on playfield? Goldeneye, 1995
    First use of mirror "paint"? Playboy, 1978???
    First whirlpool? Special Force, 1986
    First use of mini (playfield) flippers? Elektra, 1981???
    First dual inlane? Ben Hur, 1977
    First "grand champion" or similar dual all time high score / todays high score lists? Whirlwind, 1990
    First seperate high score list for buy-in games? Star Trek The Next Generation, 1993
    First abillity to put your initials on a high score? Chicago Cubs "Triple Play", 1985
    First initials for loop champion, mode champion or similar achievement? Black Knight 2000, 1989
    First more than 3 letter initials on high score? Lost In Space, 1998???
    First date/time concept? Funhouse, 1990???
    First midnight madness or other event triggered on specific date and/or time? The Machine: Bride Of Pinbot, 1992 (Power-up)
    First up/down post for holding ball for playfield locks or similar? Secret Service, 1988
    First "downhill" playfield ball release mechanism (non saucer)? Black Knight, 1980
    First up/down (big) flipper centre post preventing drain? Power Play, 1977
    First kickback between flippers? Medusa, 1981
    First plunge, not feeding into the very top of the playfield? Blackout, 1980
    First plunge skill shot, not being roll over lanes or saucer/hole?
    First plunge skill shot on a device only used for this? Medusa, 1981
    First plunge serving the ball at the flippers (possibly via skill shot device)? Spectrum, 1981
    First player selectable skill shot award (or general award or benefit) at plunge?
    First more-than-one roll over lane lights? Barracora, 1981
    First 2 or more CPUs?
    First use of a 16-bit CPU?
    First mystery (or random) award?
    First outlane to inlane gate to utilise by nudging? Silverball Mania, 1978
    First outlane to inlane gate to utilise by a flipper? Embryon, 1981???
    First more than 10x bonus multiplier? Flight 2000, 1980
    First 2 ramps, figure of 8 ball flow? Taxi, 1988???
    First rubber ring post seperating inlane and outlane? Ben Hur, 1977??? (Steel post) / Spirit of 76, 1975 (Plastic tube) (Debatable)
    First in-game user selection on display (not video mode and not at plunge)? Lights, Camera, Action, 1988
    First ball tunnel (over playfield)? Xenon, 1979
    First victory laps? Banzai Run, 1988
    First multi-ball started instantly at game start? Spring Break, 1987
    First hurry-up (target value decending over time)? Black Knight, 1980
    First reverse hurry-up (target value increasing over time for a one time only collect or time-out bust)?
    First frenzy (timed every target awards a relatively high value)? Funhouse, 1990
    First DMD display with better than 3 intensity on-levels?
    First moterised up/down target bank? Pin Bot, 1986
    First wide ramp with multible exits chosen by the ball on entering point and angle? Who Dunnit, 1995???
    First saucer to saucer juggling? NBA Fastbreak, 1997
    First user controlled mechanical device not being a flipper?
    First active flipper buttons during attract mode (for teaser sound bites, DMD fast forward etc.)?
    First ambience light (non topper)? Jurassic Park, 1993
    First ball search? High Speed, 1986???
    First cocktail or mini pinball table? The Entertainer, 1977
    First last chance ball saver on drain? Black Knight, 1980
    First on x lane/ramp shots award or mode?
    First count down on bumper hits award or super jets?
    First timed automatic flipper? The Addams Family, 1991
    First random switch hits counter on spinning disc? Dr. Dude, 1990
    First light sign (as seen on CFTBL and WCS)?
    First dual manual plungers? Funhouse, 1990???
    First shot combo acknowledgement? Black Knight 2000, 1989
    First (exact) 3-way shot combo? Whirlwind, 1990
    First (exact) 4-way shot combo? Funhouse, 1990
    First (exact) 5-way shot combo? Stargate, 1995
    First more than 5-way shot combo? The Shadow, 1994???
    First sideways moving target or ball blocker? Black Pyramid, 1984???
    First secondary playfield, that do not share balls with the main playfield? Elektra, 1981 (Jungle Lord, 1981 has a bagatelle)
    First free play option?
    First novice/regular game selection or similar? Who Dunnit, 1995???
    First playfield flipper control while bottom flipper cradle, on same flipper button?
    First game designer credit list on display?
    First "in memory of" dedication to past pinball greats? Jackbot, 1995???
    First pinball designer painted on the backglass?
    First CPU controlled one-way gate/bi-directional alternation?
    First use of glow in the dark paint? Viper Night Drivin', 1998 (Scared Stiff, 1996, on early production models only)
    First 2 or more replay scores achievable in same game? Night Rider, 1977 (Might be Fireball, 1976, needs verification)
    First replay level adjusted by the game? High Speed, 1986
    First single ball play using multible balls (lock-A release-B wormhole)? Spectrum, 1981
    First award that instantly rewards the value of the end-of-ball bonus as of now?
    First hold bonus (end-of-ball bonus staying in the pot for next ball)?
    First end-of-ball bonus sequence fast forward when holding flipper button? Creature From The Black Lagoon, 1992
    First additional player button mounted on the lock down bar or at the centre in general?
    First lights between slingshots used to show achieved goals or progress (non bonus x)?
    First inlane trigged timed shot (like 2xToll on WW)? Black Knight, 1980
    First voice hints for specific shots to make? Xenon, 1980
    First secondary voice for generic assistance (shoot the left ramp, go for multi-ball)? Theatre Of Magic, 1995???
    First pull back and lift up playfield mechanism to help repairs? Creature From The Black Lagoon, 1992
    First mode having permanemt ball saver? Time Fantasy, 1983
    First unlimited multi-balls - timed? Twilight Zone, 1993
    First unlimited multi-balls - till one of you win? Tales Of The Arabian Nights, 1996???
    First (non draining) ball in play to go further to the front of the machine than the tip of the bottom flippers? Blackwater 100, 1988???
    First ball to go behind the playfield backpanel? Dr. Dude, 1990
    First more than 4 players? The Six Million Dollar Man, 1978
    First non mechanical feature (incl. ball locks) status carrie over between players in multi-player?
    First flipper codes? Riverboat Gambler, 1990
    First DOHO (Williams only)? The Addams Family, 1991
    First "cow thing" (Williams only)? The Machine: Bride Of Pinbot, 1992 (Might be inspired by Fire!, 1987)
    First hidden feature (Easter egg)?
    First enter special initials on high score for gimmick? Bram Stoker's Dracula, 1993
    First photografic, non drawing, backglass? Raven, 1986
    First grace extended timer?
    First head-to-head game? Joust, 1983 (Challenger, 1971)
    First outlane award of being a "special", possibly when lit?
    First playfield switch only used for triggering sound and/or light effect?
    First web/e-mail reference?
    First QR code or similar? Transformers, 2010
    First special effect on score display? Solar Fire, 1981 (Animated pattern using "3") / High Speed, 1986 (First drawing of non letter/number - a circle)???
    First multi machine data link? NBA Fastbreak, 1997
    First internet hook up?
    First headphone connector? (Some Zaccaria game)
    First ball gate (or ball diversion in general) controlled by the player? Popeye Saves the Earth, 1994???
    First no "special"?
    First no "match"?
    First no "bonus x"?
    First no "pop bumper"? Jungle Lord, 1981???
    First goodie bag or factory inclosed spare parts? Harlem Globetrotters, 1979???
    First bonus credit (buy 4 and get 5) or similar?
    First dot/comma-option as thousands seperator on score display? Funhouse, 1990
    First colour painted legs? Fire! (LE), 1987
    First colour painted cabinet rails and/or lock down bar? Fire! (LE), 1987
    First easy, normal, hard adjustment pre-sets?
    First in-line drop targets? Paragon, 1979
    First ramp? Xenon, 1980???
    First plastic ramp? Space Shuttle, 1984???
    First custom text on display? High Speed, 1986
    First corkscrew? Black Hole, 1981
    First ball not going back to plunger on a weak (skill) shot, but escapes to playfield (as The Addams Family)?
    First x score fanfare (non replay)?
    First (and only) obstruction of view feature? Tommy, 1994
    First multi-ball jackpot remaining lit on return to single ball play (possibly timed)?
    First two-way-out saucer or hole eject? Viking, 1980
    First custom popbumper caps? Special Force, 1986
    First secondary player button controlling a game feature other than a flipper? Special Force, 1986???
    First bumpin' popbumper caps? Elvira And The Party Monsters, 1989
    First game to acknowledge a death save? Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle And Friends, 1993
    First tilt warning, audio? (Some Williams game)
    First tilt warning, light effect? Centaur, 1981
    First sequel? Eight Ball Deluxe, 1981 (Sequels where likely seen a number of times for EM games)
    First million points award? Comet, 1985
    First multi-ball at game start? Black Water, 1988 (Honorable mention to Goin' Nuts, 1983)
    First CPU controlled GI-light? Blackout, 1980
    First LCD on playfield? None yet, but the awesome Tron Legacy arcade game mod has shown the path
    First banked shot? Nine Ball, 1980???
    First ramp shot returning ball to an inlane? Comet, 1985???
    First event triggered action backbox topper? Whirlwind, 1990???
    First game to taunt you for holding the ball, missing shots etc.? Centaur, 1981

    #2 12 years ago

    Nice post! I appreciate the time and effort it must have taken.

    #3 12 years ago

    I belive I know the answer to these:

    First player controlled missing/achieved target switching (lane change)? FIREPOWER (1980)
    First flash lamp? FLASH (1979)
    First under playfield flash lamp? Also FLASH (1979)
    First progressive jackpot? HIGH SPEED (1986)
    First electro magnet affecting the ball in general? BLACK KNIGHT (1980)

    #4 12 years ago

    Interesting indeed!

    First user controlled mechanical device not being a flipper? - Cowpoke, 1965?
    First last chance ball saver on drain? - Goldeneye, 1995 (beats WOZ)
    First saucer to saucer juggling? - Fastbreak, 1997?
    First head-to-head game? - Fastbreak, 1997?

    These may not be earliest, but should at least give something to try and beat!

    #5 12 years ago

    Quite a list, impressive actually. What is a "cow" gimmick?

    #6 12 years ago

    First play field under play field: Black Hole ?

    #7 12 years ago
    Quoted from Wizcat:

    First saucer to saucer juggling? - Fastbreak, 1997?

    There were definitely some old EM's that passed the ball from one saucer to the next. I don't know if it was considered "juggling", though.

    #8 12 years ago

    First playfield flipper Humpty Dumpty (1947)....Although these flippers were more like moveable bumpers. The first with pivot flippers like today was Gottliebs "Just 21" (1950).

    #9 12 years ago

    Thanks for your inputs.

    As much as we appreciate innovation on pingames through out, I'd like to keep this for CPU controlled games only. With honorable mentions where suitable. Thanks.

    The cow gimmick at Williams was, from what I'd heard, started by Brian Eddy when on the Bride Of Pinbot project.

    #10 12 years ago

    First video mode is T2.

    #11 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First complete blackout

    Blackout 1980

    Quoted from soren:

    First timed goal or mode (general)?

    Beat the Clock 1985

    Quoted from soren:

    First plunge, not feeding into the very top of the playfield?

    Blackout??? 1980

    Quoted from soren:

    First secondary playfield, that do not share balls with the main playfield?

    Elektra? 1981

    Quoted from soren:

    First ball tunnel (over playfield)?

    Xenon

    Quoted from soren:

    First plunge skill shot on a device only used for this?

    Spy Hunter?

    #12 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First modern style non-glass translite?

    Rock 1985

    Quoted from soren:

    First photografic, non drawing, backglass?

    Genesis 1986

    #13 12 years ago

    Wow, I'm loving this thread. Will love to see it all filled in. When complete I think it's sticky material... Or at least a great article for Pinside.

    #14 12 years ago

    Do you have 'first head-to-head' on the list? I think it might be Williams Joust in 1983.

    http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=1316&picno=3713

    Edit: it's probably this Gottlieb Challenger from 1971.

    http://www.pinrepair.com/arcade/gchall.htm

    #15 12 years ago

    First 3-ball multi-ball?
    williams firepower 1980

    #16 12 years ago
    Quoted from kmoore88:

    Quite a list, impressive actually. What is a "cow" gimmick?

    Check it here. Williams/Bally have been putting cow references into their games for a long time.
    http://hem.bredband.net/b257182/Cows&Easter.htm

    "The first game to include a cow was The Machine: Bride of Pinbot"

    #17 12 years ago

    First 7-digit scoring? Big Game 1980
    First true stereo sound? Lazer War 1987

    Anyone know who had the first plastic ramps?

    #18 12 years ago

    5 or more flippers....Gottlieb Genie (1979)

    4 flippers.....Atari The Atarians (1976) - Also the first widebody

    #19 12 years ago

    First Shaker - Earthshaker? 1989

    #20 12 years ago

    First monitor : cave man gottlieb 1981 (check the year I'm on a mobile phone.)

    #21 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First timed ball saver? Terminator 2, 1992 (Honorable mention to Funhouse, 1990)

    Laser Cue has this mode, when you score an extra ball, the first 25 seconds of the extra ball has a ball saver. If you drain in the first 25 seconds the ball is kicked back into the shooter lane. Does that count as timed ball saver? I think it should.

    #22 12 years ago

    I didn't see this on your list, but Flash (1979) was the first game from any manufacturer to have a dynamic background sound during gameplay. Also, Paragon (1979) was the first game to use in-line drop targets.

    And High Speed (1986) had these firsts:

    First pinball to play a complete song.
    First use of Auto Percentaging (for replay scores).
    First Jackpot available only during multiball.
    First use of broken switch compensation programming.
    First SS game with operator report.
    First use of credit dot (malfunction indicator).

    #23 12 years ago

    58 out of 204. Thanks a lot. Keep em comming.

    Regarding the sound on Flash. Does anybody know, what innovative step it exactly brought to the world of pingames.

    #24 12 years ago

    First opto ball detector - Sega Nostalgia 1977

    #25 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First use of a lane diverter (playfield bottom, outlane ball saver etc.)?

    Atari Time 2000 - 1977

    First Captive Ball Atari Airborne Avengers - 1977

    Atari was ahead of their time

    #26 12 years ago

    1st Outlane Kickback Bally EightBall 1977

    #27 12 years ago
    Quoted from robertmee:

    Atari was ahead of their time

    Indeed. I also realised that they have the inductive detector and possibly rubber ring inlane/outlane. They may also be responsible for the super duper wide games of the time.

    #29 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First timed goal or mode (general)? Beat The Clock, 1985

    I have an issue with this one, Gottleib counter force has a timed goal. The goal is to knock down all of the drop targets before the missiles (red lights on the PF) hit the base (green lights on the play-field) If you fail, it resets.

    #30 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First single ball play using multiple balls (lock-A release-B wormhole)? Lord of the Rings, 2003???

    If I'm understanding the feature correctly, STTNG (1993) did this first, and had a patent granted for the feature. Eg, you fire a ball into the mission hole, and it (a different ball) instantly pops out into the cannon.

    #31 12 years ago

    First more than 4 players? - The Six Million Dollar Man (1978) (six player)

    #32 12 years ago

    Let's focus on nailing the combo shots.

    Whirlwind, 1989 has a 3-way combo.
    Funhouse, 1990 has a 4-way combo.
    The Shadow, 1995, has a 7-way combo.

    Any game beating these, and how has the first 5-way?

    I realise combos are debatable, as progressive scoring on fast shots, or combo shots, have probably been used in games beforehand. But let's keep this to games that acknowledge the "combo" with an obvious award, display and sound effect.

    #33 12 years ago
    Quoted from robertmee:

    First playfield flipper Humpty Dumpty (1947)....Although these flippers were more like moveable bumpers. The first with pivot flippers like today was Gottliebs "Just 21" (1950).

    HD had pivoted flippers just like today, not movable bumpers... they were the 'wrong way round' but definitely pivoted...

    #34 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First more than 6 balls multi-ball?

    Apollo 13? Surely the only game with more than 6 balls multiball...?

    #35 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First use of glow in the dark paint?

    Surely Viper Night Drivin'...

    Quoted from soren:

    First special effect on score display (drawing anything else than numbers)?

    Mephisto has non-alpha-numeric displays and uses them to simulate bats flying... it's a pretty crappy simulation, but the best they could do with the limited graphics It was 1987 mind you, so there could be earlier examples... Spain was a bit behind with pinball technology...

    #36 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First ramp sending the ball into free air?

    Fire!

    Quoted from soren:

    First under playfield, playfield? Black Hole, 1981

    Wrong... Electra was released in April 81, BH was Oct. '81.

    #37 12 years ago

    Thanks. Could Twilight Zone be both the first unlimited balls and 6-ball MB?

    #38 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First under playfield magnet transporting the ball on playfield? Orbitor 1, 1982???

    Nope... Orbitor 1 doesn't have any magnets! The only game I know that does this is BSD ...? I'm sure there are others though...

    #39 12 years ago
    Quoted from pinballslave:

    soren said:First under playfield magnet transporting the ball on playfield? Orbitor 1, 1982???
    Nope... Orbitor 1 doesn't have any magnets! The only game I know that does this is BSD ...? I'm sure there are others though...

    Really. How does it work exactly?

    By magnet I mean any kind. Solid or electro.

    #40 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    Really. How does it work exactly?

    I assume you mean the pop-bumper equivelant things?? These spin round at an incredible speed and when the ball hits them they get flung out...

    Is this the part of the game you mean?

    #41 12 years ago

    Ah, never mind. I obviously needed to learn a lot about that game.

    #42 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    Ah, never mind. I obviously needed to learn a lot about that game.

    Maybe you mean the way the ball doesn't move in straight lines...?? This is due to the playfield being made from a curved piece of plastic that has dips (where the spinning disks are) and countours all over the place... it's kind of insane, but there are definitly no magnets

    #43 12 years ago
    Quoted from pinballslave:

    Mephisto has non-alpha-numeric displays and uses them to simulate bats flying... it's a pretty crappy simulation, but the best they could do with the limited graphics It was 1987 mind you, so there could be earlier examples... Spain was a bit behind with pinball technology...

    I tested to see, if we had yet another first for High Speed. And sure enough (small circle animation during attract mode).

    That game also has Hold bonus. Might be first as well.

    #44 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    I tested to see, if we had yet another first for High Speed. And sure enough (small circle animation during attract mode).

    I told you the Spanish were behind the times

    #45 12 years ago

    So, about those combo shots. So far...

    Whirlwind, 1989 has a 3-way combo.
    Funhouse, 1990 has a 4-way combo.
    The Shadow, 1995, has a 7-way combo.

    The Machine: Bride Of Pinbot has a overly rewarding combo scheme, that is a bit unclear to be. Is it counting each shot for you? Is it rewarding specific combo goals?

    BTW, the nice people at Pinside, has now made this thread sticky to the top. Keep it comming.

    #46 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    The Machine: Bride of Pinbot has a overly rewarding combo scheme, that is a bit unclear to be. Is it counting each shot for you? Is it rewarding specific combo goals?

    Even though this was my first and only pin for around 2 years, and therefore got played to death... I was totally unaware of this combo shot feature...!! I just focussed on getting metamorphosis and hoping for the billion shot to come up... that and keeping my extra balls racked up so I could play for hours on the same game

    #47 12 years ago
    Quoted from Wizcat:

    If I'm understanding the feature correctly, STTNG (1993) did this first, and had a patent granted for the feature. Eg, you fire a ball into the mission hole, and it (a different ball) instantly pops out into the cannon.

    TX-sector did this before.

    The patented technique for STTNG involved always_ having balls at the ready, and it's use as a means to speed up play (presumably to bring the game up to Ritchie speed); TX sector didn't always have a staged ball at the ready in all locations. Never actually played it, but it predated STTNG by a good number of years.

    Earliest non-steel ball - did anyone experiment with this before TZ? AFAIK no, at least not for normal play (maybe on a mini-PF that wasn't connected to the main PF?)

    Earliest 6-ball multiball... I think this is likely pretty recent - maybe TZ? Not many games put more than 3 or 4 balls into the machine before that era.

    #48 12 years ago

    Thanks. I assume TZ also owes credit to the first main trough to playfield automation and unlimited balls as well.

    #49 12 years ago
    Quoted from DrAzzy:

    Earliest non-steel ball - did anyone experiment with this before TZ?

    I'm sure Hercules and Bigfoot would probably count as a non steel ball with that pool cue.

    #50 12 years ago
    Quoted from soren:

    First pull back and lift up playfield mechanism to help repairs?

    Creature from the Black Lagoon?

    Not 100% sure but I was curious enough to do a little bit of research. Wish Black Rose had this feature.

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