First Spinners, - 1963 Gottlieb Swing Along
Quoted from girloveswaffles:Limiting list to Solid State pins is lame. To many features pre date Digital electronics on pins, and there's a few year span where there were SS and EM versions of games. Were flippers introduced on the first SS pin? No. They've been around since 1947. Skill shots, Pop Bumpers, 6 digit scoring? they've been around since before SS pins.
Not my choice. Shooting the messenger on Pinside seems to always be the norm though.
The reason I decided to do this project on CPU based games only is mainly because I find it interesting how people where rethinking "the pingame" when they oppotunities of the CPU where giving to them. Or rather didn't. Try and look around and see how many years the simple-scoring-for-each-player-in-the-corners-of-the-backglass was the norm.
I appreciate each and every step of the innovation of pinball. But the mechanical innovations of the 50s/60s are well documented. So I draw a line and ask, what was brought to us after the CPU arrived.
Here is an update to the latest additions. I still cannot edit the main posting on the thread.
First ball interacting playfield toy? Comet, 1985
First deliberate air ball or cannon (non vertical)? Comet, 1985
First million points award? Comet, 1985
First up/down (big) flipper centre post preventing drain? Power Play, 1977
First magnet lifting the ball into free air? Banzai Run, 1988
I decided to skip the comic license entry. Sorry.
Quoted from soren:The reason I decided to do this project on CPU based games only is mainly because I find it interesting how people where rethinking "the pingame" when they oppotunities of the CPU where giving to them. Or rather didn't. Try and look around and see how many years the simple-scoring-for-each-player-in-the-corners-of-the-backglass was the norm.
I appreciate each and every step of the innovation of pinball. But the mechanical innovations of the 50s/60s are well documented. So I draw a line and ask, what was brought to us after the CPU arrived.
Still lame.
Quoted from soren:Here is an update to the latest additions. I still cannot edit
I decided to skip the comic license entry. Sorry.
Based on what? You Include Wizard as the first license theme (BTW an EM!) and disqualify Hercules for "First to use non metal balls". Seems like the results are being skewed.
Although it never officially went into production the first game without a manual plunger and the first game to start with multiball was Goin Nuts (1983). It may also have been the first with no outlanes and a countdown ball timer.
It deserves honorable mention at least for the first two.
viperrwk
Quoted from soren:First complete blackout? Blackout, 1980
My pin made the list!
Blackout was the first pinball game to have computer-controlled general illumination, used for the "BLACKOUT" sequence. This was accomplished using a relay mounted to the backbox floor, called the G.I. Relay, which cut power to all playfield lamps.
Prior to "Blackout", all solid state games from this manufacturer used four bolts to attach the backbox to the cabinet. With "Blackout" and later games, Williams used only two bolts even if the steel was still stamped for four holes.
http://www.ipdb.org/search.pl?any=blackout&search=Search+Database&searchtype=quick#317
Pinball Magazine No.2 features a small interview with Soren about the Pinball Firsts List. It also lists a number of firsts in Dennis Nordman designs, who is featured in the career covering cover story. Not all of the listed firsts in the magazine are listed in the list (yet).
Jonathan
www.pinball-magazine.com
Actually Flash Gordon was prior to Black Knight. But the idea was brought to Bally by a former Williams guy, and Bally was able to rush the game out.
First ramp to a second level ball pathway was Xenon.
Quoted from viperrwk:Although it never officially went into production the first game without a manual plunger and the first game to start with multiball was Goin Nuts (1983). It may also have been the first with no outlanes and a countdown ball timer.
It deserves honorable mention at least for the first two.
viperrwk
Ever hear of a little game called Spectrum? No plunger and no outlanes. 1981
I was searching for first habitrail. While Firepower II does have the wireform over the playfield thing, it's not "exactly" what I'd call a habitrail, perhaps since the ball doesn't really change direction with it, and there aren't the rings that we are used to seeing that create the illusion of a tube.
Wouldn't the hard-line answer on first habitrail be Big Guns?
-mof
This is prob wrong but
First Designer featured on Backglass- Capt. Fantastic & the brown dirt cowboy 1975
Quoted from SealClubber:It plays a midi (I think its midi) tune at game over. Part of Rock and roll all night I think. Not a KISS fan so not sure of the song.
When you start a game it plays "Rock n Roll all Night". When your last ball drains it plays "Shout it out Loud".
Q: What was the first game to trap a ball for multi-ball behind a line of inline targets (like in Fathom) ?
-mof
Q: What is the first game that requires accomplishing a set of goals on the playfield on a single ball, which leads to a jackpot mode? (like in Taxi)
-mof
Q: What is the first game to have a solenoid fire the ball to an upper playfield or bagatelle? (like in Space Station)
-mof
Q: What is the first game to sometimes lock a ball for multiball via diverter after making a ramp shot? (like in Whirlwind)
-mof
Quoted from robertmee:First Captive Ball Atari Airborne Avengers - 1977
Atari was ahead of their time
I think there were plenty of captive ball EM games. Bally had them on Sky Kings in 1974 and there were probably many before that. I don't think it's a good idea to just tabulate those "firsts" for SS games.
Many firsts are not really "firsts" if you ignore EM games that had them. This list won't be valid unless you give design credit where it's due.
Q: What pin is the first to have a topper triggered only by certain achievements in the game (like in Whirlwind)
(My GF came up with this one!)
-mof
Q: What pin is the first to have a moving 3D toy that has a function in the game? (like in Space Station)
(My GF came up with this one!)
-mof
Quoted from soren:The reason I decided to do this project on CPU based games only is mainly because I find it interesting how people where rethinking "the pingame" when they oppotunities of the CPU where giving to them. Or rather didn't. Try and look around and see how many years the simple-scoring-for-each-player-in-the-corners-of-the-backglass was the norm.
I appreciate each and every step of the innovation of pinball. But the mechanical innovations of the 50s/60s are well documented. So I draw a line and ask, what was brought to us after the CPU arrived.
Then you need to leave out things that had no bearing on CPUs... ramps, captive balls, multi-ball, none of that really is fundamentally different with a CPU. Actually, I find your restriction to CPU-based games to not really be a valid argument. Don't call them "firsts." They're not "firsts." They're more like "elevenths" if you're only counting stuff since the late 1970s. If you want your list to be taken seriously, you cannot ignore the work of other people decades before.
Quoted from PinballHelp:Many firsts are not really "firsts" if you ignore EM games that had them. This list won't be valid unless you give design credit where it's due.
I agree with this sentiment. I think a useful outcome for this thread would be to create a timeline of innovation and show which pins/designers brought this forth. I respect the request to not include EMs in SS/DMD/Moden threads where people are trying to "find that next pin to buy, where they know they don't want an EM" -- but this thread isn't about shopping help. This thread is about compiling history. EMs and their designers deserve credit...
-mof
Q: What was the first game to taunt you for not making an achievement quickly? (like in Diner, "You are too slow")
-mof
Quoted from mof:Q: What is the first game that requires accomplishing a set of goals on the playfield on a single ball, which leads to a jackpot mode? (like in Taxi)
-mof
Comet
Quoted from mof:Q: What is the first game to return a ramp shot safely to an inlane? (like in Cyclone)
-mof
Road Kings
I found the answer to one I believe...
First plunge serving the ball at the flippers (possibly via skill shot device)?
1981 - Bally - Spectrum
-Steve
Quoted from mof:Q: What is the first game to have a solenoid fire the ball to an upper playfield or bagatelle? (like in Space Station)
-mof
Haunted House has this, but I don't know if it's the oldest.
Quoted from njPinWiz:Great thread! Interesting facts and entertaining to read.
Absolutely, this is one of my favorite threads!
Quoted from soren:Updated. Thanks.
I would greatly appreciate if you marked your updates here, so we can know what the delta changes are.
thanks!
-mof
Quoted from mof:Q: What was the first game to taunt you for not making an achievement quickly? (like in Diner, "You are too slow")
-mof
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