Play Meter
Issue: 1981 December 15 - Vol 7 Num 23 - Page 50
sun. The year brought us 41 different
models and an average rating for all
the machines of 3.20 which included
a whopping 15 ####s.
Obviously, I was e njoying what I
was seeing and playing,although, so
too were the other pinball players
out there , especially considerinq the
likes of Williams' FLASH, POKER-
/NO, and STELLAR WARS; Bally's
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS,
KISS, PLAYBOY, SUPERSONIC,
and PARAGON; Gottlieb's GENIE,
COUNTDOWN, andCHARLIE'S
ANGELS, and Stern's METEOR,
HOT HAND , and MAGIC; as well as
Atari 's SUPERMAN, which proved
to be too little, too late for the
company and its venture into pinball.
As for the top four in 1979, there
was some shifting of positions as
witnessed by the following:
STERN
3.9
WILLIAMS
3.75
BALLY
3.74
GOTTLIEB
3.4
In 1980, there was a pronounced
change in the fortunes of pinball that
resulted in a rise for video and the
plateauing of the games in terms of
innovation and excitement, across
the board, for the 34 models
produces. It 's evident in the fact that
the average ratings were down to a
new low of 2.90 with only 4 machines
(or just 12'7o ) getting ####.
The memorab le games of the
year? How about Williams '
FIREPOWER, Bal ly's SPACE
iNVADERS, and Stern'sBIG GAME
and FLIGHT 2000. As for how the
manufacturers stacked up:
WILLIAMS
3.4
STERN
3.34
BALLY
2.67
GOTTLIEB
2.58
That brings us up to 1981, which,
although still not complete as yet,
has still managed to bring a nother 24
games to use and an avergae rating
of 3.05 so far as of last issue 's last
game . Seven games have garnered
####s so far , including Williams'
ALIEN POKER, and BLACK
KNIGHT; Bally's XENON and
FLASH GORDON; Stern's LIGHT-
NING and FREE FALL;
and
Gottlieb's MARS.
As of now, the rankings read like
this, although there is still some time
for change before the year runs out:
WILLIAMS
3.45
STERN
3.38
BALLY
3.0
GOTTLIEB
2.93
Aces a n d jokers
So what does it all mean? We ll ,
you can see where I might have been
right over the years, as well as wrong
and whether I've gotten any better
over time. For me, it is a revelation to
look back, see how far we've come,
the impact of some games for each of
the companies and how they may
change the balance of production
and design for succeeding efforts.
Anyway , if you have any reactions to
all the numbers, etc . let me know.
As for the next issue, get ready for
the post -AMOA wrap up report
highlighting the games, the people,
and conversation about the future
and present of the amusement
business . I'm exicted by the prospect
of what I'l l be seeing in a few short
days and optimistic about everything
in genera l and the promise of pinball
in a ll ways, shapes, and forms - to
survive and co ntinue as an integral
part of an industry that has never
been res tricted by the production of
only one type of game in more than
100 years since the first patents
began trickling into Washington.
Until then, we hope all had a happy
Halloween. Zachary Nathaniel and
older brother Joshua Lucas wish
you well and their daddy would like
to also add, be well and prosper. •
TOKENSeTOKENSeTOKENS
!STOCK AND CUSTOM )
FOR ALL MAKES OF GAMES,
T URNSTILES & VENDING MACHINES
PRIZE REDEMPTION & TRADE CHECKS
CASINO SLOT & GAMING COINS
Phone or wri te fo r catalog & samples
. PLAY METER, December 15,1981
53
models and an average rating for all
the machines of 3.20 which included
a whopping 15 ####s.
Obviously, I was e njoying what I
was seeing and playing,although, so
too were the other pinball players
out there , especially considerinq the
likes of Williams' FLASH, POKER-
/NO, and STELLAR WARS; Bally's
HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS,
KISS, PLAYBOY, SUPERSONIC,
and PARAGON; Gottlieb's GENIE,
COUNTDOWN, andCHARLIE'S
ANGELS, and Stern's METEOR,
HOT HAND , and MAGIC; as well as
Atari 's SUPERMAN, which proved
to be too little, too late for the
company and its venture into pinball.
As for the top four in 1979, there
was some shifting of positions as
witnessed by the following:
STERN
3.9
WILLIAMS
3.75
BALLY
3.74
GOTTLIEB
3.4
In 1980, there was a pronounced
change in the fortunes of pinball that
resulted in a rise for video and the
plateauing of the games in terms of
innovation and excitement, across
the board, for the 34 models
produces. It 's evident in the fact that
the average ratings were down to a
new low of 2.90 with only 4 machines
(or just 12'7o ) getting ####.
The memorab le games of the
year? How about Williams '
FIREPOWER, Bal ly's SPACE
iNVADERS, and Stern'sBIG GAME
and FLIGHT 2000. As for how the
manufacturers stacked up:
WILLIAMS
3.4
STERN
3.34
BALLY
2.67
GOTTLIEB
2.58
That brings us up to 1981, which,
although still not complete as yet,
has still managed to bring a nother 24
games to use and an avergae rating
of 3.05 so far as of last issue 's last
game . Seven games have garnered
####s so far , including Williams'
ALIEN POKER, and BLACK
KNIGHT; Bally's XENON and
FLASH GORDON; Stern's LIGHT-
NING and FREE FALL;
and
Gottlieb's MARS.
As of now, the rankings read like
this, although there is still some time
for change before the year runs out:
WILLIAMS
3.45
STERN
3.38
BALLY
3.0
GOTTLIEB
2.93
Aces a n d jokers
So what does it all mean? We ll ,
you can see where I might have been
right over the years, as well as wrong
and whether I've gotten any better
over time. For me, it is a revelation to
look back, see how far we've come,
the impact of some games for each of
the companies and how they may
change the balance of production
and design for succeeding efforts.
Anyway , if you have any reactions to
all the numbers, etc . let me know.
As for the next issue, get ready for
the post -AMOA wrap up report
highlighting the games, the people,
and conversation about the future
and present of the amusement
business . I'm exicted by the prospect
of what I'l l be seeing in a few short
days and optimistic about everything
in genera l and the promise of pinball
in a ll ways, shapes, and forms - to
survive and co ntinue as an integral
part of an industry that has never
been res tricted by the production of
only one type of game in more than
100 years since the first patents
began trickling into Washington.
Until then, we hope all had a happy
Halloween. Zachary Nathaniel and
older brother Joshua Lucas wish
you well and their daddy would like
to also add, be well and prosper. •
TOKENSeTOKENSeTOKENS
!STOCK AND CUSTOM )
FOR ALL MAKES OF GAMES,
T URNSTILES & VENDING MACHINES
PRIZE REDEMPTION & TRADE CHECKS
CASINO SLOT & GAMING COINS
Phone or wri te fo r catalog & samples
. PLAY METER, December 15,1981
53
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).