Coin Slot Magazine - #081 - 1981 - November [International Arcade Museum]
This is the first in a series of articles, which will be
presented from time to time, describing the features of
a particular "classic" pinball machine. These articles
will be interspersed with my other articles on pinball
history and trivia At the suggestion of one of the
readers, I will also in the near future be doing at least
one article on pinball troubleshooting and repair,
(possibly including a little bit of basic electrical circuit
theory as it applies to the pinball machine). Another
future article will deal with the pinball machine in
drama (plays, movies and TV) and in literature.
The classic pingame to be discussed is Genco's
METRO, which was released in the latter half of 1940.
This game is in my personal collection and I have
provided both photographs and a simple drawing
illustrating the playfield features
to enhance this description.
There are six purple bumpers (labelled 1 to 5 and P
on the diagram). Bumpers 1 to 5 must be hit in
sequence to light: the bumper labelled P is always lit.
Striking a lit purple bumper increases the bonus score
indication on the backglass, to a maximum of 15. If all
five numbered, purple bumpers are lit, hitting anyone
of them awards a replay.
A triangular array of three yellow bumpers (Y on
diagram), is located on the left of the playfield with a
rollover between the top two. Beneath the rollover is a
yellow disc which lights alternately depending on the
position of the cars on the backglass. A similar set of
bumpers, rollover and disc, in green (G on diagram), is
located on the right. If a ball actuates a rollover while
the corresponding disc is lit, the bumpers of that color
light and remain lit throughout
the game (lit bumpers score
1,000). The rollover also scores
^^^^^^^^
I consider this game to be a
1,000.
'classic' in two respects. First,
from an aesthetic viewpoint and
secondly for its advanced playing
The artwork on the
backglass depicts a "city of the
future" as viewed in 1940, a
study of which would indicate
that the early pingame artist who
drew it was not too far of in his
artistic prediction of "things to
come". Another unique aspect of
A-B-C FEATURE
Three rollovers towards the
bottom of the playfield (A, B and
C on diagram)
operate
in
features
this machine is the"bell" shaped,
molded plastic bumpers. At that
time,
bumper
styles
were
changing from the old "spiral
spring" type to newer plastic
types and several odd shaped
bumpers (like the 'bells' on
conjunction
with four white
bumpers (also A, B, C). The
rollovers must be operated in
ETRO
PINGAME
CLASSIC
METRO) were used by various
manufacturers
during
this
period.
The most significant scoring
feature of this game is the
"bonus" system described in
detail below. This is the earliest
game I know of to have an
sequence to light the correspon
ding bumper(s). When A, B and
C have been sequentially lit, the
bonus
collection
feature
changes from awarding points to
replays.
BONUS COLLECTION
Two further rollovers with a
white bumper between them (W)
are located at the bottom of the
playfield. This bumper never
lights and thus only advances
the cars. Lighted posts (BL) are
located next to the rollovers.
When a ball passes over a
rollover when its corresponding
post is lit, the indicated bonus
(on the backglass) is collected,
either in thousands of points or
replays (depending on the A-B-C
advancing bonus. If any of you
readers know of an earlier
pingame with such a feature I would be very interested
in learning about it. It is interesting to note that this „
Green bumpers, disc
concept is one of the few pinball scoring techniques Purp.le b»"P
.A-B-C rollovers
that was developed before World War II that is still in
use today in solid state pins.
I think after reading the description of this fascinating
early pingame all should agree that Genco's METRO
should definately be considered one of the 'classic'
.com
m
:
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from -muse
d
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oad .arcade
l
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w
Dow //ww circuit,
road and for : each
1,000 points are scored. All
p
htt (except
bumpers,
the purple bumpers), score 1,000
pinball games of pinball history.
SCORING
All unlit bumpers cause light animated cars on the
backglass to advance along a 'road'. Twelve operations
of the bumper are needed to complete a circuit of the
points when lit.
66 —THE COIN SLOT
© The International Arcade Museum
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Yellow bumpers, disc
and rollover
\
White bumper
and rollovers
November 1981
http://www.arcade-museum.com/